Nonlinear and Terahertz Studies of Electro-Optic and Magneto-Electric Materials
Abstract
We have assembled a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers to fabricate, characterizeand model new classes of materials with strongly enhanced coupling between ferroic orders and the ability to control them with electromagnetic radiation. In particular novel heterostructure designscombined with multiferroics [Priya] will allow for control of electric and magnetic ordering in systems of mixed dimensionalities. This, together with control of both lattice structure and electron/nuclear spin states [Khodaparast, Stanton], will give rise to improved and qualitatively new and robust materials properties. We combine a materials level design approach [Priya] with the application of external optical, magnetic electric or strain fields [Khodaparast, Raschke] to enhance the electric, magnetic, and optical response of the materials and achieve qualitatively new properties that are not attainable by conventional, single materials design alone. Combining DC gating with far-field excitation, near-field excitation and optical antenna based field localization, we can control material parameters and functionality over multiple length and times scales, from the atomic/microscale to macroscopic dimensions, and from femtosecond to DC time scales. By closely coupling our materials design with theory [Stanton, Belyanin], we will pursue an intergrated and iterative approach to optimizing materials functionality, by design and synthesis, followedby characterization and refined modeling. The resulting enhanced linear and nonlinear optical properties (including THz generation), magneto-electric coupling, or ferroelectric polarization at the nanoscale (confined dimensions), can exceed by a wide range of metrics (tunability, conversion efficiency, coupling coefficient, stability, etc.), conventionally achievable properties in bulk materials. In device implementations, any combination of magnetic, electric, and coherent strain phases can be utilized for storage, and switching.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501710341
Entities
People
- Giti Khodaparast
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- Virginia Tech