Advanced Pulsed Laser Deposition for Ultrafast, Tunable Metal and Magneto Oxide Nanophotonic Devices
Abstract
Under this proposal the purchase of an ultraviolet (UV) excimer laser system to support pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of emerging nanophotonic oxide materials is being solicitated. PLD system is instrumental for the design, growth and optimization of the oxide materials for the multitude of photonic applications. Structural, electronic, and linear optical properties of heavily-doped metaloxide films as a function of fabrication parameters (deposition conditions, substrates, etc.) ar to be studied. Using the equipment we will develop heavily-doped metal oxide films as a basis for epsilon-near-zero (extremely low refractive index) materials. Our work will not only increase functionality and performance of traditional nonlinear optical devices but will also uncover noveland exciting physical phenomena. We will explore magneto-nanophotonic oxide materials for the utilization of ultra-thin optical interfaces-metasurfaces-with broken parity-time symmetry. The proposed equipment will support the nanophotonic oxide-based research that was pioneered by the PI and co-PI~s team, which is expected to advance both fundamental science and devicelevelapplications in the fields of chemical/biological sensing, energy management,telecommunication, and quantum information. We already have several grants which heavily rely on the fabrication of oxide films, totaling over $3.2 million in active funding.The Excimer laser system is to be incorporated with the oxide PLD deposition chamber (PVD Products) within the Birck Nanotechnology Center (BNC) at Purdue University. The entire deposition system will be open-access to all members of BNC, and consequentially, will have a direct impact on the optical and materials science research of several faculty members, includingmembers of the College of Engineering (Electrical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Materials Science) and the College of Science (Physics, Chemistry). The system will complement and strengthen the multi-million nanofabrication facilities located with the BNC~s cleanroom, enabling the fabrication of next-generation integrated optical devices. The requested system will facilitate multiple research collaborations outside of Purdue including Navel Research Lab (NRL), Sandia National Lab, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Argonne National Lab, and Stanford University. Likewise, the system will lead to a strengthening of currentinternational collaborations including Heriot-Watt University, University of Glasgow, and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.The PLD deposition system will contribute to outreach activities, such as the nationwide Nano Days, by enhancing facility tours and demonstrations. We have specific outreach activities where students learn the basics of touch screens and liquid crystal displays and the importance of oxide films within these technologies. Purdue also supports undergraduate research projects, which PLD system can enhance and increase involvement of undergraduate students in research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912450
Entities
People
- Alexandra Boltasseva
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Virginia