Nanostructured Optics for High Power Laser Applications

Abstract

We will investigate the potential of nanostructured optical surfaces to manipulate spectral, temporal and spatial properties of high intensity laser beams, and utilize them to perform coherent and incoherent beam combining, spectral filtering, and pulse shaping. Both metasurface and integrated optics based approaches, for manipulation of free space and on chip optical beams, respectively, will be considered. Importantly, our structures will be realized in wide bandgap materials capable of handling large optical intensities. In the first approach, we will realize monolithic (one material only) high power optical metasurfaces based on nanostructured bulk materials. High power laser mirrors, dichroic filters, and polarization components will be realized, and their potential for beam combining investigated. Tunable optical components will be realized leveraging nonlinear response of the materials. Owing to their monolithic nature, we expect our devices to be less susceptible to thermally induced failure mechanisms. In addition, integrated photonics approaches for on chip beam combining and routing will be considered.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jan 14, 2022
Source ID
FA95501910376

Entities

People

  • Marko Loncar

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Space