System for Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy of Emergent Classical and Quantum Photonic Nanomaterials
Abstract
The present research instrumentation program aims at expanding the existing capabilities of the shared optical spectroscopic facilities at the City College through the acquisition of a magneto-optical cryostat, a dedicated supercontinuum mid-infrared light source, and a dedicated camera and spectrograph. The combined system - to be operated as an integrated user facility - is conceived as a versatile platform for the investigation of optical properties of metamaterials and metasurfaces and other nascent optical materials, including photonic and polaritonic topological insulators, and photonic nanostructures integrating two-dimensional semiconductors, Weyl semimetals, and electronic topological insulators. Outstanding characteristics making the proposed system unique are its broad spectral range spanning from the visible into the mid-infrared, and the possibility to perform measurements in a broad range of temperatures (from 1.6K), in strong magnetic fields (up to 7T) in a wide range of optical momenta and in different experimental geometries. These plans leverage on the already singular capabilities of our base instrumentation, featuring visible and near-infrared light sources and photodetectors, and a variety of custom-built optical tools for characterization at room temperature. Combined into a self-standing imaging and spectroscopy station, the finalized system will serve as a multimodal tool capable tackling a broad range of important problems in nanomaterials science, and revealing novel aspects and regimes of light-matter interactions, including, ¥ the characterization of active topological photonic nanostructures integrating quantum wells and quantum dots for enhanced emission and robust luminescence and lasing, ¥ formation of designer exciton-polaritons and phonon-polaritons in monolayers of Van der Waals materials integrated with optical nanostructures, including photonic topological insulators, ¥ investigation of strong light-matter interaction in nascent photonic nanostructures at cryogenic temperatures and in the presence of magnetic field, and the prospects of realizing active and nonreciprocal elements enabled by such interactions, ¥ investigation of excitations dynamics in nascent nanomaterials with time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy in broad range of wavelengths and in different experimental geometries, ¥ the dynamics of single-photon emitters embedded into photonic nanomaterials and metasurfaces, including for topologically robust generation of entangled photons. The PIsÕ efforts are supported by a broad group of researchers from different field and departments, including electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, who form highly interdisciplinary group with long track-record of collaborative work. The proposed instrumentation will be setup in the newly constructed interdisciplinary Center for Discovery and Innovation on the City College campus, and it will be operated as a shared facility managed by the Science Division Core Facilities Committee. In addition to its scientific and technological impact, the proposed facility is anticipated to have a profound educational impact by offering students and postdocs opportunities to study systems and phenomena of the most urgent scientific interest, and providing interactions within a wide network of collaborating labs at CCNY and in greater NYC. Lead PI is member of the NSF-funded CREST center at CCNY specifically aimed at mentoring and training minority students in material sciences and quantum technologies. This partnership not only provides a broad dissemination platform but also allows the PIs to successfully attract students from under-represented communities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110156
Entities
People
- Alexander B Khanikaev
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- City University of New York
- Office of the Secretary of Defense