Bandwidth-voltage trade-off paradigm in low-loss LNOI electro-optic modulators, using equalizer configuration.

The ever-increasing demand for high-speed data communication has fueled the development of ultra-fast electro-optic modulators. Our proposed equalizer configuration in lithium niobate on insulator electro-optic (LNOI-EO) modulators offers a novel approach to the bandwidth-voltage trade-off. Using 3D simulations, we achieved an ultra-high bandwidth of 300 GHz, delivering more than three times enhancement compared to the conventional modulators with the same base modulator length and half-wave voltage of 4.

The second-order coherence analysis of number state propagation through dispersive non-Hermitian multilayered structures.

To examine the second-order coherence of light propagation of quantum states in arbitrary directions through dispersive non-Hermitian optical media, we considered two sets of non-Hermitian periodic structures that consist of gain/loss unit cells. We show that each batch can satisfy the parity-time symmetry conditions at a distinct frequency. We then varied the gain/loss strength in the stable electromagnetic regime to evaluate the transmittance of N-photon number states through each structure.

All-optical AZO-based modulator topped with Si metasurfaces.

All-optical communication systems are under continuous development to address different core elements of inconvenience. Here, we numerically investigate an all-optical modulator, realizing a highly efficient modulation depth of 22 dB and a low insertion loss of 0.32 dB.

Binary THz modulator based on silicon Schottky-metasurface.

We propose a metasurface THz modulator based on split-ring resonators (SRRs) formed by four interconnected horizontal Si-Au Schottky diodes. The equivalent junction capacitance of each SRR in the proposed modulator is much smaller than that of the previously reported metasurface counterparts with vertical Schottky junctions, leading to a higher modulation speed. To modulate a THz incident signal by the proposed metasurface, we vary the bias voltage externally applied to the Schottky junctions.

Semiempirical modeling of the effects of the intrinsic and extrinsic optical phonons on the performance of the graphene-based devices.

Surface plasmons in graphene have mainly been affected by intrinsic optical phonons due to the vibrations of the carbon atoms and surface polar optical phonons (S-POPs) of the underlying dielectric surface. This plasmon hybridization dramatically changes the features of the plasmonic devices. However, a complete theoretical model for the graphene impedance to consider the optical phonons effects is yet remained to be developed.

Simulating a graphene-based acousto-plasmonic biosensor to eliminate the interference of surrounding medium.

The presence of species other than the target biomolecules in the fluidic analyte used in the refractive index biosensor based on the surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) can lead to measurement ambiguity. Using graphene-based acousto-plasmonic biosensors, we propose two methods to eliminate any possible ambiguity in interpreting the measured results. First, we take advantage of the dynamic tunability of graphene SPRs in the acousto-plasmonic biosensor with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) induced uniform grating, performing measurements at different applied voltages.

Oblique propagation of the squeezed states of s(p)-polarized light through non-Hermitian multilayered structures.

Employing a second-quantization of the electromagnetic field in the presence of media with both gain and loss, we investigate the propagation of the squeezed coherent state of light through a dispersive non-Hermitian multilayered structure, in particular at a discrete set of frequencies for which this structure is -symmetric. We detail and generalize this study to cover various angles of incidence and s- and p-polarizations to reveal how dispersion, gain/loss-induced noises in such multilayered structures affect nonclassical properties of the incident light, such as squeezing and sub-Poissonian statistics. Varying the loss layers' coefficient, we demonstrate a squeezed coherent state, when transmits through the structure whose gain and loss layers have unidentical bulk permittivities, retains its nonclassical features to some extent.

Photoelectrical properties of integrated photodetectors based on bilayer graphene quantum dots with asymmetric metal contacts: a NEGF-DFT study.

We propose investigating the electro-optical properties of photodetectors based on mono- and bilayer graphene quantum dots or nanodots (GNDs). These photodetectors consist of dissimilar metals (gold, silver and titanium) that are in contact with the GNDs. To obtain photoelectrical characteristics, we employed density functional theory to solve the non-equilibrium Green's function.

Exact dispersion relations for the hybrid plasmon-phonon modes in graphene on dielectric substrates with polar optical phonons.

Intrinsic optical phonons and extrinsic polar optical phonons (POPs) strongly affect the graphene surface plasmons. Specifically, extraneous POPs present on the surface of an underlying substrate change the behavior of the graphene's surface plasmons sharply due to the plasmon-phonon hybridization. Here, we report modeling of exact dispersion relations for graphene's surface plasmons affected by intrinsic optical phonons and extrinsic POPs of the surface of polar dielectric substrates with one or more vibrational frequencies.

Thermophoresis suppression by graphene layer in tunable plasmonic tweezers based on hexagonal arrays of gold triangles: numerical study.

Taking advantage of highly confined evanescent fields to overcome the free-space diffraction limit, we show plasmonic tweezers enable efficient trapping and manipulation of nanometric particles by low optical powers. In typical plasmonic tweezers, trapping/releasing particles is carried out by turning the laser power on and off, which cannot be achieved quickly and repeatedly during the experiment. We introduce hybrid gold-graphene plasmonic tweezers in which the trap stiffness is varied electrostatically by applying suitable voltages to a graphene layer.

Electronic transport properties of hydrogenated and fluorinated graphene: a computational study.

Hydrogenation and fluorination have been presented as two possible methods to open a bandgap in graphene, required for field-effect transistor applications. In this work, we present a detailed study of the phonon-limited mobility of electrons and holes in hydrogenated graphene (graphane) and fluorinated graphene (graphene fluoride). We pay special attention to the out-of-plane acoustic (ZA) phonons, responsible for the highest scattering rates in graphane and graphene fluoride.

Tunable plasmonic force switch based on graphene nano-ring resonator for nanomanipulation.

Using a plasmonic graphene ring resonator of resonant frequency 10.38 THz coupled to a plasmonic graphene waveguide, we design a lab-on-a-chip optophoresis system that can function as an efficient plasmonic force switch. Finite difference time domain numerical simulations reveal that an appropriate choice of chemical potentials of the waveguide and ring resonator keeps the proposed structure in on-resonance condition, enabling the system to selectively trap a nanoparticle.

Electronic Transport Properties of Silicane Determined from First Principles.

Silicane, a hydrogenated monolayer of hexagonal silicon, is a candidate material for future complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. We determined the phonon-limited mobility and the velocity-field characteristics for electrons and holes in silicane from first principles, relying on density functional theory. Transport calculations were performed using a full-band Monte Carlo scheme.

Hexagonal arrays of gold triangles as plasmonic tweezers.

We present theoretical and experimental studies of the plasmonic properties of hexagonal arrays of gold triangles, fabricated by angle-resolved nanosphere lithography method. Our numerical and experimental results both show that a change in the angle of gold deposition affects the size and the distance between the triangles, leading to a controlled shift in their absorption and scattering spectra. We calculate the force exerted on the polystyrene particles of 650 nm radii numerically while passing above the hexagonal arrays.

Effects of Electric Fields on Multiple Exciton Generation.

Unique properties of lead chalcogenides have enabled multiple exciton generation (MEG) in their nanocrystals that can be beneficial in enhancing the efficiency of third-generation solar cells. Although the intrinsic electric field plays an imperative role in a solar cell, its effect on the multiple exciton generation (MEG) has been overlooked, so far. Using EOM-CCSD as a many-body approach, we show that any electric field can affect the absorptivity spectra of the lead chalcogenide nanocrystals (Pb Te , Pb Se , and Pb S ).

Designing a low-threshold quantum-dot laser based on a slow-light photonic crystal waveguide.

We numerically investigate and design a compact electrically pumped edge-emitting photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) quantum dot (QD) laser operating at room temperature. Use of a narrowband folded directional coupler as the output mirror has made the proposed structure an edge-emitting single-mode laser. Moreover, we propose a set of rate equations to model the performance of the PCW-QD laser.

Numerical Investigation of Tunable Plasmonic Tweezers based on Graphene Stripes.

We are proposing tunable plasmonic tweezers, consisting two parallel graphene stripes, which can be utilized to effectively trap and sort nanoparticles. We show that by electrostatically tuning the chemical potential of a graphene stripe by about 100 meV (equivalent to ΔV  ≈ 4.4 V), the plasmonic force can be switched efficiently, without a need to switch the laser intensity.

Designing Switchable Phononic Crystal-Based Acoustic Demultiplexer.

We present the design procedure for switchable acoustic demultiplexers based on a fluid-fluid phononic crystal (PnC) platform. It consists of a T-shaped PnC waveguide coupled to two output waveguide ports through two dissimilar point-defect cavities. The PnC platform consists of a periodic array of infinitely long rods of water (inclusions) embedded in mercury background.

Nanoslit cavity plasmonic modes and built-in fields enhance the CW THz radiation in an unbiased antennaless photomixers array.

A new generation unbiased antennaless CW terahertz (THz) photomixer emitters array made of asymmetric metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) gratings with a subwavelength pitch, operating in the optical near-field regime, is proposed. We take advantage of size effects in near-field optics and electrostatics to demonstrate the possibility of enhancing the THz power by 4 orders of magnitude, compared to a similar unbiased antennaless array of the same size that operates in the far-field regime. We show that, with the appropriate choice of grating parameters in such THz sources, the first plasmonic resonant cavity mode in the nanoslit between two adjacent MSMs can enhance the optical near-field absorption and, hence, the generation of photocarriers under the slit in the active medium.

Unbiased continuous wave terahertz photomixer emitters with dis-similar Schottky barriers.

We are introducing a new bias free CW terahertz photomixer emitter array. Each emitter consists of an asymmetric metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) that is made of two side by side dis-similar Schottky contacts, on a thin layer of low temperature grown (LTG) GaAs, with barrier heights of difference (ΔΦ(B)) and a finite lateral spacing (s). Simulations show that when an appropriately designed structure is irradiated by two coherent optical beams of different center wavelengths, whose frequency difference (∆f) falls in a desired THz band, the built-in field between the two dis-similar potential barriers can accelerate the photogenerated carriers that are modulated by ∆ω, making each pitch in the array to act as a CW THz emitter, effectively.

Midinfrared supercontinuum generation via As2Se3 chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers.

Using numerical analysis, we compare the results of optofluidic and rod filling techniques for the broadening of supercontinuum spectra generated by As2Se3 chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). The numerical results show that when air-holes constituting the innermost ring in a PCF made of As2Se3-based chalcogenide glass are filled with rods of As2Se3-based chalcogenide glass, over a wide range of mid-IR wavelengths, an ultra-flattened near-zero dispersion can be obtained, while the total loss is negligible and the PCF nonlinearity is very high. The simulations also show that when a 50 fs input optical pulse of 10 kW peak power and center wavelength of 4.

Nanostructured graphene-based hyperbolic metamaterial performing as a wide-angle near infrared electro-optical switch.

We propose a nanostructured hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) that can make the transition between elliptic and hyperbolic regimes in the near infrared (IR) frequency range. This switchable HMM is a slab made of a periodic stack of metal/Al(2)O(3)/graphene/Al(2)O(3)/metal nano-layers. By tuning the graphene conductivity via tuning its chemical potential, through a variable external bias, the response of this highly anisotropic medium to a monochromatic TM incident light can be switched between a positive/negative refraction regime and a negative refraction/no-transmission regime.

Internal photoemission-based photodetector on Si microring resonator.

We propose a photodetector (PD) based on the internal photoemission effect over a Schottky barrier on a CMOS-compatible Si microring resonator for 1.55 μm. To analyze the device, we model the microring waveguide partially covered by a metal/silicide nanolayer, using the Z-transform method.

Design of an ultracompact low-power all-optical modulator by means of dispersion engineered slow light regime in a photonic crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

We present the design procedure for an ultracompact low-power all-optical modulator based on a dispersion-engineered slow-light regime in a photonic crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometer (PhC MZI), selectively infiltrated by nonlinear optical fluids. The dispersionless slow-light regime enhancing the nonlinearities enabled a 22 μm long PhC MZI to operate as a modulator with an input power as low as 3 mW/μm. Simulations reveal that the switching threshold can be controlled by varying the optofluidic infiltration.