skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Nonlinear nanophotonic devices in the ultraviolet to visible wavelength range
Abstract Although the first lasers invented operated in the visible, the first on-chip devices were optimized for near-infrared (IR) performance driven by demand in telecommunications. However, as the applications of integrated photonics has broadened, the wavelength demand has as well, and we are now returning to the visible (Vis) and pushing into the ultraviolet (UV). This shift has required innovations in device design and in materials as well as leveraging nonlinear behavior to reach these wavelengths. This review discusses the key nonlinear phenomena that can be used as well as presents several emerging material systems and devices that have reached the UV–Vis wavelength range.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1849965
PAR ID:
10222572
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nanophotonics
Volume:
9
Issue:
12
ISSN:
2192-8606
Page Range / eLocation ID:
3781 to 3804
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. X-ray spectroscopies are uniquely poised to describe the geometric and electronic structure of metalloenzyme active sites under a wide variety of sample conditions. UV/Vis (ultraviolet/visible) spectroscopy is a similarly well-established technique that can identify and quantify catalytic intermediates. The work described here reports the first simultaneous collection of full in situ UV/Vis and high-energy resolution fluorescence detected x-ray absorption spectra. Implementation of a fiber optic UV/Vis spectrometer and parabolic mirror setup inside the dual array valence emission spectrometer allowing for simultaneous measurement of microfluidic flow and mixing samples at the Photon-In Photon-Out X-ray Spectroscopy beamline is described, and initial results on ferricyanide and a dilute iron protein are presented. In conjunction with advanced microfluidic mixing techniques, this will allow for the measurement and quantification of highly reactive catalytic intermediates at reaction-relevant temperatures on the millisecond timescale while avoiding potential complications induced by freeze quenching samples. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract Incorporation of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in polymer matrix has been used to enhance and control dissolution and release of drugs, for targeted drug delivery, as antimicrobial agents, localized heat sources, and for unique optoelectronic applications. Gold NPs in particular exhibit a plasmonic response that has been utilized for photothermal energy conversion. Because plasmonic nanoparticles typically exhibit a plasmon resonance frequency similar to the visible light spectrum, they present as good candidates for direct photothermal conversion with enhanced solar thermal efficiency in these wavelengths. In our work, we have incorporated ∼3-nm-diameter colloidal gold (Au c ) NPs into electrospun polyethylene glycol (PEG) fibers to utilize the nanoparticle plasmonic response for localized heating and melting of the polymer to release medical treatment. Au c and Au c in PEG (PEG+Au c ) both exhibited a minimum reflectivity at 522 nm or approximately green wavelengths of light under ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. PEG+Au c ES fibers revealed a blue shift in minimum reflectivity at 504 nm. UV-Vis spectra were used to calculate the theoretical efficiency enhancement of PEG+Au c versus PEG alone, finding an approximate increase of 10 % under broad spectrum white light interrogation, and ∼14 % when illuminated with green light. Au c enhanced polymers were ES directly onto resistance temperature detectors and interrogated with green laser light so that temperature change could be recorded. Results showed a maximum increase of 8.9 °C. To further understand how gold nanomaterials effect the complex optical properties of our materials, spectroscopic ellipsometry was used. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry and modeling with CompleteEASE® software, the complex optical constants of our materials were determined. The complex optical constant n (index of refraction) provided us with optical density properties related to light wavelength divided by velocity, and k (extinction coefficient) was used to show the absorptive properties of the materials. 
    more » « less
  3. Haasch, Richard; Graham, Dan; Podraza, Nikolas; Shard, Alexander (Ed.)
    Spectroscopic ellipsometry and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrometry were utilized to study the optical properties of ferroelectric lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) films. These films were deposited on platinized silicon [Si(100)/ SiO2/TiO2/Pt(111)] substrates using the chemical solution deposition method. Films were annealed at two different temperatures (650 and 750 °C) using rapid thermal annealing. Shimadzu UV-1800 UV-VIS spectrophotometer with a resolution of 1 nm was used to measure the reflectance data in the spectral range of 300–1000 nm with a step size of 1 nm. The bandgap values were determined from the reflectance spectra using appropriate equations. A J.A. Woollam RC2 small spot spectroscopic ellipsometer was used to obtain the change in amplitude (Ψ) and phase (Δ) of polarized light upon reflection from the film surface. The spectra were recorded in the wavelength range of 210–1500 nm at an incident angle of 65°. Refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) were obtained by fitting the spectra (Ψ, Δ) with the appropriate models. No significant changes were observed in the optical constants of PLZT films annealed at 650 and 750 °C. The optical transparency and the strong absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) region of PLZT films make them an attractive material for optoelectronic and UV sensing applications. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract Visibly transparent luminescent solar concentrators (TLSC) can optimize both power production and visible transparency by selectively harvesting the invisible portion of the solar spectrum. Since the primary applications of TLSCs include building envelopes, greenhouses, automobiles, signage, and mobile electronics, maintaining aesthetics and functionalities is as important as achieving high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in practical deployment. In this work, massive‐downshifting phosphorescent nanoclusters and fluorescent organic molecules are combined into a TLSC system as ultraviolet (UV) and near‐infrared (NIR) selective‐harvesting luminophores, respectively, demonstrating UV and NIR dual‐band selective‐harvesting TLSCs with PCE over 3%, average visible transmittance (AVT) exceeding 75% and color metrics suitable for the window industry. With distinct wavelength‐selectivity and effective utilization of the invisible portion of the solar spectrum, this work reports the highest light utilization efficiency (PCE × AVT) of 2.6 for a TLSC system, the highest PCE of any transparent photovoltaic (TPV) devices with AVT greater than 70%, and outperforms the practical limit for non‐wavelength‐selective TPV. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract Single-photon counters are single-pixel binary devices that click upon the absorption of a photon but obscure its spectral information, whereas resolving the color of detected photons has been in critical demand for frontier astronomical observation, spectroscopic imaging and wavelength division multiplexed quantum communications. Current implementations of single-photon spectrometers either consist of bulky wavelength-scanning components or have limited detection channels, preventing parallel detection of broadband single photons with high spectral resolutions. Here, we present the first broadband chip-scale single-photon spectrometer covering both visible and infrared wavebands spanning from 600 nm to 2000 nm. The spectrometer integrates an on-chip dispersive echelle grating with a single-element propagating superconducting nanowire detector of ultraslow-velocity for mapping the dispersed photons with high spatial resolutions. The demonstrated on-chip single-photon spectrometer features small device footprint, high robustness with no moving parts and meanwhile offers more than 200 equivalent wavelength detection channels with further scalability. 
    more » « less