NEW FRONTIERS OF NANO-PHOTONICS: MULTI-THZ IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY OF GRAPHENE BASED NANOSTRUCTURES
Abstract
New frontiers of nano-photonics: multi-THz imaging and spectroscopy of graphene based nanostructures Executive summary Photons across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum from THz to visible light interact strongly with single- and few-layer graphene. Furthermore, graphene-based structures support strongly confined plasmon polaritons enabling control and manipulation of THz (and multi-THz) radiation at the nano-scale using a variety of stimuli including static gate voltage and ultrafast optical pulses. These virtues of graphene-based structures open up the possibility for new photonic devices, such as plasmonic reflectors, electrically driven modulators, tunable filters, circuits based on transformation plasmonics, efficient light sources and reconfigurable detectors -- all on the same chip and holding enormous promise to surpass currently available alternatives. This team will design, model, characterize and commission graphene-based functional (nano)structures and devices in two broad categories: ? plasmonic circuits, ? hybrid devices for transformational polaritonics . All proposed devices are designed for operation in THz, multi-THz and IR regimes: frequency ranges of paramount practical significance where existing technologies suffer severe limitations. We will focus on devices that operate in ambient environments: an essential precondition for their broad impact in modern technology. Yet in order to gain insights into the physical phenomena governing plasmonic and optical effects in graphene it will be necessary to conduct some of the proposed measurements in high vacuum and cryogenic temperatures. Our special emphasis lies in the development of hybrid devices where the unique versatility of graphene is augmented by effects originating from interactions between electrons in graphene and the substrate. We will explore and exploit methods to introduce sizable and tunable energy gap in the otherwise gapless spectrum of Dirac quasiparticles of graphene. Two such methods – moiré superlattices and application of static magnetic field – will be examined in detail to assess the potential of introducing multi-THz gaps for the operation of plasmonic circuits, detectors, and light-emitting devices. The utilization of graphene for revolutionary photonics technologies relies critically on obtaining a full understanding of the physical processes underlying carrier population dynamics and collective non-equilibrium effects in photo-excited or gated graphene nanostructures as well as on controlling these effects at the nano-scale through materials science. Rapid progress towards the fulfillment of the ambitious goals of this program will rely on accelerated development of scanning probe tools enabling previously unattainable access to optical phenomena at the nanoscale. Our team will advance optical scanning probe techniques for nanospectroscopy/ imaging enabled by i) ultra-broad band frequencies, ii) ultra-fast (femtosecond) time resolution, and iii) ultra-small spatial resolution down to a few nanometers. The impact of advances along these three new frontiers extends far beyond the study of graphene. These novel capabilities offer unprecedented access to optical phenomena and new materials of interest to the ONR. Co-investigators have a strong record of collaborative research, specifically in the area of graphene photonics and plasmonics. The novelty of graphene physics, nano-photonic devices and nano-optical characterization all call for an approach featuring state-of-the-art experiments combined with advanced theory and modeling. The requested budget will support three junior researchers and will facilitate their training within a genuinely multi-disciplinary program developing skills of high demand in academia, industry and government laboratories.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512671
Entities
People
- Dimitri Basov
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
- United States Navy