Free-form optimization of nanophotonic devices: from classical methods to deep learning

Nanophotonic devices have enabled microscopic control of light with an unprecedented spatial resolution by employing subwavelength optical elements that can strongly interact with incident waves. However, to date, most nanophotonic devices have been designed based on fixed-shape optical elements, and a large portion of their design potential has remained unexplored. It is only recently that free-form design schemes have been spotlighted in nanophotonics, offering routes to make a break from conventional design constraints and utilize the full design potential. In this review, we systematically overview the nascent yet rapidly growing field of free-form nanophotonic device design. We attempt to define the term “free-form” in the context of photonic device design, and survey different strategies for free-form optimization of nanophotonic devices spanning from classical methods, adjoint-based methods, to contemporary machine-learning-based approaches.

Thermo-optical properties of nanophotonic devices with carbon nanotube films

Here, thermo-optical properties of hybrid nanophotonic circuits SWCNTs/SiN were investigated by studying the temperature dependence of the resonance wavelengths. After experimental and theoretical study, we found the thermo-optical coefficient of SWCNTs film is equal to 2.02 10-6 RIU/0C.

Broadband unidirectional scattering in the transverse direction and angular radiation realized by using a silicon hollow nanodisk under a radially polarized beam

In recent years, directional scattering has been one of the most active research hotspots in the field of nanophotonics. Herein, we study the directional scattering properties of a silicon hollow nanodisk illuminated by a tightly focused radially polarized beam. The induced strong longitudinal total electric dipole interferes with transverse magnetic dipole to achieve a highly-efficient transverse unidirectional scattering when the silicon hollow nanodisk is located at a specific position in the focal plane. Moreover, the manipulated unidirectional scattering in the transverse direction can be realized in the broad wavelength range from 581 nm to 656 nm. In addition, the unidirectional angular radiation towards all directions can be realized by adjusting the position of the silicon hollow nanodisk. Our research results are helpful for the design of nanophotonic devices that can manipulate the angular radiation direction, and have potential applications in sensing, optical communications, solar cells and other fields.

Design of hybrid narrow-band plasmonic absorber based on chalcogenide phase change material in the infrared spectrum

Structures absorbing electromagnetic waves in the infrared spectral region are important optical components in key areas such as biosensors, infrared images, thermal emitters, and special attention is required for reconfigurable devices. We propose a three-dimensional metal-dielectric plasmonic absorber with a layer of PCM’s (Phase Change Materials). The phase shift effects of PCMs are numerically analyzed, and it is possible to obtain a shifting control of the resonant absorption peaks between the amorphous and crystalline states using the Lorentz–Lorenz relation. By using this empirical relation, we analyzed the peak absorption shift at intermediate phases between the amorphous and the crystalline. The geometric parameters of the structure with the PCM layer in the semi-crystalline state were adjusted to exhibit strong absorption for normal incidence. The effects of the oblique incidence on the absorption for the TM and TE polarization modes were also analyzed. Our results demonstrate that PCMs have great potential for reconfigurable nanophotonic devices.

Mechanical scanning probe lithography of nanophotonic devices based on multilayer TMDCs

In this work, we demonstrate the possibility of using mechanical Scanning probe lithography (m-SPL) for fabricating nanophotonic devices based on multilayered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). By m-SPM, we created a nanophotonic resonator from a 70-nm thick MoSe2 flake transferred on Si/Au substrate. The optical properties of the created structure were investigated by measuring microphotoluminescence. The resonator exhibits four resonance PL peaks shifted in the long-wavelength area from the flake PL peak. Thus, here we demonstrate that m-SPL is a high-precision lithography method suitable for creating nanophotonic devices based on multilayered TMDCs.

Purcell Effect and Beaming of Emission in Hybrid AlGaAs Nanowires with GaAs Quantum Dots

Control of directionality of emissions is an important task for the realization of novel nanophotonic devices based on nanowires. Most of the existing approaches providing high directionality of the light emitted from nanowires are based on the utilization of the tapered shape of nanowires, serving as nanoantenna coupling with the light waveguided in nanowire and the directional output beam. Here we report the beaming of the emitted light with wavelength near 800 nm by naturally formed core-shell AlGaAs NW with multiply GaAs quantum dots (QDs) diameter 30 nm and height 10 nm, while the diameter of NW 130 nm, what does not support efficient emission into waveguided modes, including the mode HE11. Experimental measurements show that intensity of emission for directions in the vicinity of the axis of NW is about two orders of magnitude higher than for perpendicular directions. The developed theoretical approach allowed us to calculate the probability of spontaneous emission for various directions and into waveguided modes and showed that highly directional radiation can be provided by the intrinsic emission properties of cylindrical NW. Our results suggest that for the small diameter of NW, directional emissions are associated with an TM0 leaky mode (when electric field oriented in axial direction) and therefore manifests in an existence of axial electric dipole transitions in quantum dots.

Pump-controlled RGB single-mode polymer lasers based on a hybrid 2D–3D μ-cavity for temperature sensing

Single mode lasers, particularly red-green-blue (RGB) colors, have attracted wide attention due to their potential applications in the photonic field. Here, we realize the RGB single mode lasing in a hybrid two-dimension and three-dimension (2D–3D) hybrid microcavity (μ-cavity) with a low threshold. The hybrid 2D–3D μ-cavity consists of a polymer fiber and a microsphere. Typical RGB polymer film consisting gain materials are cladded on a fiber. To achieve single mode lasing, the polymer fiber therein serves as an excellent gain cavity to provide multiple lasing modes while the microsphere acts as a loss channel to suppress most of the lasing modes. Mode switching can be realized by adjusting the pump position. It can be attributed to the change of coupled efficiency between gain μ-cavity and loss μ-cavity. Our work will provide a platform for the rational design of nanophotonic devices and on-chip communication.

Laser Diode Pumped Polymer Lasers with Tunable Emission Based on Microfluidic Channels

Tunable whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) lasers have been paid lots of attention for their potential applications in the photonic field. Here, a tunable polymer WGM laser based on laser diode pumping is realized with a threshold of 0.43 MW/cm2 per pulse. The WGM laser is realized by a microfluidic microcavity, which consists of a quartz capillary and gain materials. The laser performance keeps stable for a long time (3.5 h), pumped by a 50-ns 50 Hz laser diode with a pumping peak power density of 1.08 MW/cm2 per pulse. The lasing wavelength can be tuned over 15 nm by changing the gain material concentration from 3.5 mg/mL to 12.5 mg/mL in the microfluidic channel. Moreover, the lasing mode can be switched between transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes by adjusting the pump polarization. These results provide the basis for designing nanophotonic devices with laser diode pumping.

High Q Resonant Sb2S3-Lithium Niobate Metasurface for Active Nanophotonics

Phase change materials (PCMs) are attracting more and more attentions as enabling materials for tunable nanophotonics. They can be processed into functional photonic devices through customized laser writing, providing great flexibility for fabrication and reconfiguration. Lithium Niobate (LN) has excellent nonlinear and electro-optical properties, but is difficult to process, which limits its application in nanophotonic devices. In this paper, we combine the emerging low-loss phase change material Sb2S3 with LN and propose a new type of high Q resonant metasurface. Simulation results show that the Sb2S3-LN metasurface has extremely narrow linewidth of 0.096 nm and high quality (Q) factor of 15,964. With LN as the waveguide layer, strong nonlinear properties are observed in the hybrid metasurface, which can be employed for optical switches and isolators. By adding a pair of Au electrodes on both sides of the LN, we can realize dynamic electro-optical control of the resonant metasurface. The ultra-low loss of Sb2S3, and its combination with LN, makes it possible to realize a new family of high Q resonant metasurfaces for actively tunable nanophotonic devices with widespread applications including optical switching, light modulation, dynamic beam steering, optical phased array and so on.