Synthesis of Second-Order Optical Nonlinearities with Electronic Metamaterials

非技术性描述：大数据生成的持续爆炸依赖于新的信息处理技术和技术的发展，这些技术可以以前所未有的速度计算和传输大量信息。 实现这种性能的当前趋势取决于电子和光子（光学）技术的无缝集成。然而，现有技术的光子技术是昂贵的、庞大的、在它们的对准中是脆弱的，并且难以与电子系统集成，无论是在成本有效的制造方面还是在光子电路可以处理的大量数据的递送和检索方面。为了克服这些缺陷，目前的趋势强调直接在电子处理器芯片上构建光子子系统，与周围的电子产品具有相同的制造工艺。开发具有实质非线性特性的光子材料对于构建用于大数据超快信息处理的集成、高速光子器件和系统至关重要。该项目为研究生和本科生提供科学培训，并作为与初中和高中进行外联、教育和合作的平台。通过各种正在进行的学生和教师培训活动，使不同种族、性别和经济背景的学生能够参与科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）。技术描述：具有大的二阶非线性折射率的光学材料对于构建用于超快片上调制的集成的、CMOS兼容的高速光子器件是必不可少的，光场的切换和波混合。这种非线性光学材料可以通过经由电介质/半导体界面处的固定电荷或金属/半导体界面处的功函数梯度来设计半导体的电子能带结构来构造。该项目的重点是设计，制造和测试的非线性超材料，在自由空间和导波配置，在操作的 可见光和近红外区域。此外，研究了超材料的电学和光学性质之间的关系，以便为超快开关等新应用设计电调谐光学非线性。该项目的总体目标是进一步推进非线性光学超材料科学和技术，重点是三个具体的方法目标。第一个目标的重点是理论分析和建模的超材料的工程纳米结构的组成，利用各种CMOS兼容材料;第二个地址的发展，这些超材料的纳米制造方法;最后，第三个目标的实验验证的理论预测和测试制造的非线性超材料。这项研究也为超材料的许多应用，包括光场的调制，开关和波混合的发展铺平了道路。PI继续致力于大学内以及圣地亚哥初中和高中的外联，教育和合作努力，通过正在进行的REU，RET和夏季教学计划。

Nontechnical description: The ongoing explosion in generation of big data relies on development of new information processing techniques and technologies that can compute and communicate large volumes of information with unprecedented speed. The current trend in achieving such performances depends on seamless integration of electronics and photonic (optical) technologies. However, the state of the art photonic technologies are costly, bulky, fragile in their alignment, and difficult to integrate with electronic systems, both in terms of cost effective manufacturing and in terms of delivery and retrieval of massive volumes of data that photonic circuits can process. To overcome these deficiencies, the current trend emphasizes the construction of photonic subsystems directly on an electronic processor chip, with the same manufacturing process as the surrounding electronics. Development of photonic materials with substantial nonlinear characteristics is essential for the construction of integrated, high speed photonic devices and systems for ultrafast information processing of big data. The project provides scientific training for students at graduate and undergraduate levels as well as serves as a platform for outreach, education and collaborative efforts with middle and high schools. Engagement of students of diverse ethnicity, gender and economic backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is enabled through various ongoing student and teacher training activities.Technical description: Optical materials with large second-order nonlinear susceptibilities are essential for the construction of integrated, CMOS compatible, high speed photonic devices for ultrafast on-chip modulation, switching and wave mixing of optical fields. Such nonlinear optical materials can be constructed by engineering the electronic band structure of semiconductors via either fixed charges at dielectric/semiconductor interfaces or gradient of work functions at metal/semiconductor interfaces. This project focuses on the design, fabrication and testing of nonlinear metamaterials, in free-space and guided wave configurations, for operation in the visible and near-IR regions. Additionally, relationships between the electrical and optical properties of the metamaterials are investigated in order to design electrically tuned optical nonlinearities for novel applications such as ultrafast switching. The overall goal of this project is to further advance nonlinear optical metamaterial science and technology, with focus on three specific approach objectives. The first objective focuses on theoretical analysis and modeling of metamaterials by engineering nanostructure composition exploiting various CMOS compatible materials; the second addresses development of nanofabrication methods of these metamaterials; lastly, the third objective targets experimental validation of the theoretical predictions and testing of the fabricated nonlinear metamaterials. This study also paves the way for development of numerous applications of metamaterials including modulation, switching, and wave mixing of optical fields. The PI continues to be committed to outreach, education and collaborative efforts within the university as well as with San Diego middle and high schools, through ongoing REU, RET and summer teaching programs.