Colloquium: Dr. Eric Seabron, Howard University
In-Person PHYS 401
Location
Physics : 401
Date & Time
October 19, 2022, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Description
TITLE: Manipulating Light-Matter Interactions in Structured Dielectric Media
ABSTRACT: Next generation information platforms based on planar integrated photonics and free space optical systems have shown significant promise for overcoming the performance bottlenecks of traditional semiconductor based digital architectures. Developing a fundamental understanding of light-matter physics is important for identifying new opportunities to create breakthrough photonic devices for Integrated Microwave Photonics, Optical Neuromorphic Computing, and Quantum Photonics. Our approach to exploring novel light-matter interactions and photonic device functionality is by tuning the optical permittivity of the dielectric material itself and by artificially structuring anisotropy to modify the diffractive light-matter interactions. In this talk, we will introduce phase change chalcogenides on nanostructured silicon (PCNS) as a unique optical metamaterial with an actively tunable effective permittivity and spatially confined heat accumulation leading to significant reduction in power consumption and intriguing dynamic behavior. We will also show how PCNS can be used to modify the resonant behavior of strongly coupled resonator metasurfaces by creating small perturbations in regions of strong optical mode confinement. We will also explore how low volume fraction topological perturbations using PCNS may lead to enhanced modulation of optical behavior in silicon photonic crystals. Our results show promise for using PCNS and Nanostructure Silicon as a novel platform for studying light-matter physics in many interesting applications such as topological photonics, optical quantum simulators, flat beamforming optics, and embedded photonic memory.
ABSTRACT: Next generation information platforms based on planar integrated photonics and free space optical systems have shown significant promise for overcoming the performance bottlenecks of traditional semiconductor based digital architectures. Developing a fundamental understanding of light-matter physics is important for identifying new opportunities to create breakthrough photonic devices for Integrated Microwave Photonics, Optical Neuromorphic Computing, and Quantum Photonics. Our approach to exploring novel light-matter interactions and photonic device functionality is by tuning the optical permittivity of the dielectric material itself and by artificially structuring anisotropy to modify the diffractive light-matter interactions. In this talk, we will introduce phase change chalcogenides on nanostructured silicon (PCNS) as a unique optical metamaterial with an actively tunable effective permittivity and spatially confined heat accumulation leading to significant reduction in power consumption and intriguing dynamic behavior. We will also show how PCNS can be used to modify the resonant behavior of strongly coupled resonator metasurfaces by creating small perturbations in regions of strong optical mode confinement. We will also explore how low volume fraction topological perturbations using PCNS may lead to enhanced modulation of optical behavior in silicon photonic crystals. Our results show promise for using PCNS and Nanostructure Silicon as a novel platform for studying light-matter physics in many interesting applications such as topological photonics, optical quantum simulators, flat beamforming optics, and embedded photonic memory.
