Optical frequency conversion in nonlinear dielectric metasurfaces

该项目旨在研究半导体纳米晶在一种被称为非线性亚表面的超薄透明薄膜中的光混合。了解这种亚表面中的共振非线性相互作用将允许光束和图像的上下频率转换，其效率远远超出当前的能力。该项目的成果将为新的具有成本效益和紧凑的红外成像设备奠定基础，并将使具有量身定制的空间和光谱关联的超快量子光源成为可能。这些将有利于在国防和安全方面的重要应用，包括夜视、安全全息图、量子密码学和通信。

This project aims to investigate the mixing of light colours in semiconductor nanocrystals arranged in an ultra-thin transparent film, called a nonlinear metasurface. Understanding of the resonant nonlinear interactions in such metasurfaces will allow for the up and down frequency conversion of light beams and images with efficiencies well beyond current capabilities. The outcomes of the project will form the basis for novel cost-effective and compact devices for infrared imaging, and will also enable ultra-fast sources of quantum light with tailored spatial and spectral correlations. These will benefit important applications in defence and security, including night vision, security holograms, quantum cryptography and communications.