Next Generation Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Novel Radio Frequency and Optical Devices

Abstract

The past five years have seen a rapid maturation metamaterials and metasurfaces, which showenormous promise as novel architectures for imaging, beam forming, communications, sensing andmany other devices and systems; in fact, many of the early metasurface concepts are now in theprocess of transitioning to largescale defense and consumer markets. The need is greater than ever for developing new modeling and analysis tools that will both drive the fundamental science ofmetamaterials, but will also accelerate and promote the translation from lab to application. In thisprogram, we propose a number of research thrusts enabled by the metamaterial platform, with theultimate goal of developing novel metasurface apertures for operation at microwave, infrared andvisible wavelengths. We plan to pursue our research goals with a combination of theory and semianalytical modeling, numerical simulations, and proof-of-concept experiments. In the radiofrequency (RF) domain, we plan to investigate the use of dynamic metasurfaces as innovativereconfigurable apertures for computational imaging and sensing schemes, including singlefrequency synthetic aperture radar paradigms. We will also investigate the development ofvolumetric metamaterial holograms for multifunctional optical elements, in which the designflexibility of metamaterial elements—including frequency dispersion, artificial magnetism andanisotropy—is fully exploited. At infrared wavelengths, we will explore computational imagingschemes based on metamaterial radiators fed by optical cavities, as a means of achievingelectronically controlled imaging and LIDAR-like performance. We will also seek to exploit thefilm-coupled nanopatch system to develop next-generation sources and nonlinear components,including optical switches and nanolasers, enabled by harnessing the extreme optical-fieldenhancements supported in such structures.Page 50

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
May 30, 2018
Source ID
FA95501810187

Entities

People

  • David R. Smith

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Duke University
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Nanofabrication and Microfabrication.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics