Ultracompact Spectrometers for Infrared Wavelengths

非技术摘要：红外(IR)光谱因其在热成像、化学传感、环境监测、医学成像、安全系统、大气研究和高速电子学等领域的广泛应用而引起人们的广泛关注。几乎所有的分子在6到16微米的红外波长范围内都表现出吸收共振。这些共振对每个分子来说都是独一无二的，被称为分子“指纹”，可以用来识别化学物种。该项目的目标是创造一种可集成在芯片上的超紧凑型光谱仪(UCS)。与传统的台式光谱仪不同，这种微型设备可以与尺寸有限的系统集成，如无人机、便携式设备和可现场部署的设备。它们为化学传感和环境监测提供了一种低成本、高效率的方法。例如，含有UCSs的无人机可以用于化学分析，以检测环境毒素。可现场部署的设备可用于城市、农场或森林中的挥发性有机化合物传感。该项目还将与特拉华大学(UD)工程学院外展办公室合作，制作针对中学生的解释光学基本概念的短片。这些视频的目的是向学生介绍光学，这是他们在特拉华州的中学没有看到的一门学科，但很有趣，不需要高等数学就能理解。这些视频将在广泛的社交媒体平台上传播，使我们能够接触到大量观众。这些视频将链接到其他科学信息，例如来自美国光学学会的信息以及参加UD的信息。技术摘要：传统的红外光谱分析系统价格昂贵，体积庞大，需要机械运动。它们的工作原理使它们不可能大幅缩小规模。该项目旨在采用新型工程材料和先进的纳米制造技术来创建超紧凑型红外光谱仪。具体地说，该项目将使用梯度介电材料，如重掺砷化铟，来执行光谱分裂和亚波长光限制。通过将梯度介电材料和探测器阵列集成在一块芯片上，所提出的UCS消除了复杂的光学元件，并将设计尺寸缩小到10微米。拟议的UCS是一种在纳米级收集光谱信息的创新方法，并显著降低了光谱仪的尺寸和成本。将开发独特的生长方法和纳米制造程序，促进材料科学领域的知识和纳米器件的集成。该项目的成果可广泛应用于其他需要亚波长聚焦和波长解复用的光电子器件，促进了对一系列领域的理解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Abstract TitleUltracompact Spectrometers for Infrared WavelengthsNontechnical Abstract:Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has attracted significant attention due to broad applications in this spectral range including thermal imaging, chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, medical imaging, security systems, atmospheric studies, and high-speed electronics. Almost all molecules exhibit absorption resonance in the IR wavelength region from 6 to 16 micrometers. These resonances are unique to each molecule and are called molecular “fingerprints”, which can be used to identify chemical species. The goal of this project is to create an ultracompact spectrometer (UCS) which can be integrated on a chip. Unlike traditional benchtop spectrometers, such tiny devices enable integration with size-limited systems, such as drones, portable devices, and field-deployable devices. They provide a low-cost and efficient method for chemical sensing and environmental monitoring. For example, a drone containing UCSs can be used for chemical analysis to detect environmental toxins. Field-deployable devices can be used in a city, farm, or forest for volatile organic compound sensing. This project will also work with the University of Delaware (UD) College of Engineering Outreach office to create short videos explaining fundamental concepts in optics aimed at middle schoolers. The goal of these videos is to introduce students to optics, a subject that they do not see in middle school in Delaware, but which is interesting and does not require advanced math to understand. The videos will be distributed on a wide range of social media platforms, allowing us to reach a large audience. The videos will link to additional scientific information from, for example, the Optical Society of America as well as information on attending UD. Technical Abstract:Conventional IR spectroscopy systems are expensive, bulky, and require mechanical motion. Their operation principle makes it impossible to significantly shrink their size. This project aims to employ novel engineered materials and advanced nanofabrication to create an ultracompact IR spectrometer (UCS) on-a-chip. Specifically, this project will use gradient permittivity materials such as heavily-doped indium arsenide to perform both spectral splitting and subwavelength light confinement. By integrating gradient permittivity materials and detector arrays on a chip, the proposed UCS eliminates complex optical elements and shrinks the dimensions of the design to as small as 10 micrometers. The proposed UCS is an innovative way to collect spectral information at the nanoscale and significantly reduces the size and cost of a spectrometer. Unique growth approaches and nano-fabrication procedures will be developed, advancing knowledge in the field of materials science and the integration of nano-devices. The results of this project can be applied to a wide range of other optoelectronic devices requiring subwavelength focusing and wavelength demultiplexing, advancing understanding across a range of fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.