CAREER: Bridging Infrared and Visible Photonics with Chip-ready Nonlinear and Quantum Metadevices

光子学是一项强大的技术，它能够实现不断增长的数据传输，并激发出新的节能和可重构架构，这些架构将为未来的计算机提供动力。然而，目前光子芯片中颜色的多样性需要一种通用的方法来将信号从一个光频率传输到另一个光频率。目前，芯片携带近红外信号用于通信，可见光信号用于成像，中红外信号用于热辐射和传感应用。这些芯片之间的转换通过电子驱动的检测和排放限制效率和操作速度。本研究旨在解决晶片上的高效率频率转换问题。它通过被称为光子-声子超表面的设计纳米结构中的非线性和量子光-物质相互作用，将跨越五个八度的光的信号连接起来。光子-声子超表面将使用现代纳米技术工具，以及严格的数值设计方法和最先进的光学测试工具，包括飞秒激光和单光子相关技术。这项研究的结果将为芯片上更好、更有效的信号传输铺平道路，这将允许异质光子平台和小芯片的无缝集成。该项目的一个重要组成部分是综合教育努力，以培养未来半导体微电子和量子信息专家的多样化群体。通过无尘室培训、量子通信协议的实践经验和公开演讲，该项目的团队将在塑造未来高科技研究和教育的格局方面发挥重要作用。该项目旨在通过探索非线性和量子光-物质相互作用，在纳米尺度上弥合中、近红外和可见光子学之间的差距。在五年内，将开发在纳米级器件中连接可见光和中红外之间跨越五个八度的光频率的基础。三个主要目标包括揭示基于声子极化材料（hBN, MoO3）和谐振介电纳米结构的组合共同设计的光子-声子超表面的基本性质；促进光子在不同频率上的混波；在应变二维材料中采用中红外驱动进行单光子发射。为了实现这些目标，将使用全波分析、纳米力学协同设计、纳米尺度制造和表征工具、近场显微镜、飞秒光谱学和相关测量。该项目在探索声子极化材料的非线性和量子特性方面具有智力价值，为片上光管理提供了一个框架，具有前所未有的带宽，占地面积和效率。更广泛的影响延伸到通过芯片光子学的进步影响社会，影响计算，信号处理，电信，量子信息和生物光子学。该项目通过半导体和量子就绪教育和劳动力发展活动将研究和教育结合起来。针对不同参与者的洁净室培训、量子通信协议的实践经验以及公开讲座将提供培训机会，并与学术和区域组织合作开展包容性工作。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Photonics is a powerful technology that enables ever-growing data transfer and inspires novel energy-efficient and reconfigurable architectures that will empower the computers of the future. However, the present diversity of colors in photonic chips calls for a universal approach to transfer signals from one light frequency to another. Currently, chips carry near-infrared signals for communication, visible signals for imaging, and mid-infrared for thermal radiation and sensing applications. Conversion between these chips through electronics-driven detection and emission limits efficiency and operation speed. This research effort addresses the problem of efficient frequency conversion on a chip. It connects signals across five octaves of light through nonlinear and quantum light-matter interactions in designer nanostructures called photonic-phononic metasurfaces. Photonic-phononic metasurfaces will be conceived using modern tools of nanotechnology, as well as rigorous numerical design approaches and state-of-the-art optical testing tools, including femtosecond lasers and single-photon correlation techniques. The results of this research will pave the way to better, more efficient signaling on a chip, which will allow seamless integration of heterogeneous photonic platforms and chiplets. An essential component of this project is an integrated educational effort to train a diverse group of future semiconductor microelectronics and quantum information specialists. Through clean room training, hands-on experience with quantum communication protocols, and public talks, the project’s team will play an important role in shaping the landscape of high-tech research and education of tomorrow.This CAREER project aims to bridge the gap between mid-, near-infrared, and visible photonics at the nanoscale by exploring nonlinear and quantum light-matter interactions. Over five years, the foundation for connecting light frequencies across five octaves between the visible and mid-infrared in nanoscale devices will be developed. The three main objectives include unraveling the fundamental properties of co-designed photonic-phononic metasurfaces based on a combination of phonon-polaritonic materials (hBN, MoO3) and resonant dielectric nanostructures; facilitating wave-mixing of photons across different frequencies; and employing mid-infrared drive for single-photon emission in strained two-dimensional materials. To achieve these objectives, full-wave analysis, nanomechanical co-design, nanoscale fabrication and characterization tools, near-field microscopy, femtosecond spectroscopy, and correlation measurements will be used. The project holds intellectual merit in exploring the nonlinear and quantum properties of phonon-polaritonic materials, offering a framework for on-chip light management with unprecedented bandwidth, footprint, and efficiency. The broader impacts extend to influencing society through advancements in on-chip photonics, impacting computing, signal processing, telecommunication, quantum information, and biophotonics. The project integrates research and education through semiconductor- and quantum-ready education and workforce development activities. Clean room training for a diverse body of participants, hands-on experience with quantum communication protocols, and public talks will provide training opportunities and inclusion efforts in collaboration with academic and regional organizations.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.