Novel Materials and Approaches for Nanolasing
Abstract
This fundamental science program focuses on innovative experimental and theoretical studies of novel optical materials, lasing concepts and optical phenomena related to active (i.e., providing optical gain) sources of local electromagnetic fields on the nanometer scale. These structures are known as spasers, which are nanometer-scale lasing analogs in plasmonics, or metal-based optics, that utilize the excitation of deeply subwavelength surface plasmon resonances. The area of plasmonics has already enabled a number of important applications, including single molecule sensing, near-field scanning microscopy techniques, surface-plasmon-enhanced photodetectors, thermally assisted magnetic recording, novel biomedical tests, and many other. To bring further disruptive advances to nanoscale photonics and its applications, lasing nanostructures that are highly tailorable, robust and can be integrated with existing technologies are required.This program aims at investigating and demonstrating innovative materials and approaches for the realization of both spasers and nanolasing structures that utilize the excitation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons. The objectives of this effort are both to understand fundamental physics of novel optical materials and nanoscale structures and to demonstrate new nanolasing schemes. We will combine advances in new types of optical materials such as atomically thin, two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite semiconductor materials, transparent conducting oxides exhibiting near-zero index properties, ultra-thin metals and semimetals, and MXenes with the novel nanophotonic concepts such as ultra-thin, flat metasurfaces, specifically those supporting ultra-narrow resonances, and create new platforms for achievinghigh performance nanolasers. We will explore both materials, new designs and advanced properties including spatiotemporal dynamics of the novel nanolasers as well as their applications realms. The development of novel, highly tailorable nanolasers could advance the fields of sensing, spectroscopy,communication, energy, and quantum optics. This effort will impact both the fundamental science of lightmatter interactions and emitting structures as well as optical technologies at large. This program will also contribute to the training of the next generation of researchers in the important areas of materials engineering, nanooptics and optical technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142112026
Entities
People
- Vladimir Shalaev
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Purdue University
- United States Navy