Nanostructured Material for Optomechanics
Abstract
A means to characterize the mechanical properties of a structure with optical deflection will be used to gain access to optical force from deflection measurements, thereby validating a simulation methodology. This model will be used to design nanostructured metal and dielectric media that provide for a large and regulated optical force, to achieve an enabling technology for optical communication, silicon photonics, and propulsion applications. Three tasks are proposed. (i) The mechanical properties of membranes will be determined using optical deflection to allow the optical force to be determined from deflection measurements. (ii) The use of struc tured material with pulsed lasers and with light having broad spectral content will be studied with a rigorous model for force density in material. Both material and geometry frequency dispersion, and opportunities for exploiting the spectral content of the light will be investigated. (iii) A design methodology for optomechan ical devices based on metal and dielectric structures that provide pushing (in the direction of the incident beam) and pulling (in the opposite direction) forces will be pursued. A modest fabrication effort will extend background work with structured gold on silicon nitride membranes to structured dielectric films formed on commercial silicon nitride membranes, and the optomechanical response characterized. Determination of the mechanical properties of a membrane will allow extraction of the force imparted, of fundamental importance in evaluating the theory and in the pursuit of application oriented designs. It should be possible to harness the use of pulsed laser beams in propulsion and also multiple wavelength switching in communication applications. General control opportunities will ensue with structures that can be pushed and pulled. Consequently, a new class of multi functional optomechanical components will be enabled by this project.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910259
Entities
People
- Kevin J. Webb
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Purdue University
- United States Air Force