Article
Optics
Tianwei Wu, Marco Menarini, Zihe Gao, Liang Feng
Summary: Using spatial light modulator-based lithography-free programmable light transmission, we demonstrate optical switching and a basic photonic neural network. Integrated photonics is crucial for handling increasing data traffic due to its high speed, large bandwidth, and unlimited parallelism. This lithography-free paradigm allows for dynamic control of spatial-temporal modulations of the imaginary index, enabling tailored optical-gain distributions for desired photonic functionality. The resulting programmability and multifunctionality can revolutionize integrated photonic signal processing and enhance information-processing speed.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xinyu Luo, Han Ye, Mingxuan Zhou, Shuhe Zhang, Yuxuan Sun, Xueyu Wang, Jing Li, Lei Chen, Yumin Liu
Summary: This paper presents a mode order conversion method with non-volatile reconfigurable capability on silicon waveguides. By introducing deformed phase change material Sb2Se3 stripes at the edges of the functional region, TE0-to-TE1 and TE0-to-TE2 mode conversions are achieved. The method has a compact footprint and high conversion efficiency.
OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Xiaojuan Lian, Zhixuan Gao, Xiang Wan, Qingying Ren, Xiaoyan Liu, Lei Wang
Summary: In this study, an optoelectronic device using phase-change materials (PCMs) was designed to demonstrate its perfect absorption characteristics and high-density storage capability. Both functionalities were evaluated experimentally and through simulations. The phase-change extent of the PCM layer was found to dynamically change the resonant wavelength of the device, allowing for perfect absorption. The use of amorphous bit arrays within a crystalline background showed promising potential for probe storage applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zhihai Liu, Xiang Li, Yu Zhang, Wei Jin, Yaxun Zhang, Siying Cheng, Yaru Li, Libo Yuan
Summary: In this study, an all-optical controllable switch device with non-volatile, broadband adjustable, and bistable fast switching performance was proposed and demonstrated by integrating the phase-change material onto the optical fiber. This device is expected to enable fast and broadband optical routing and provide new storage and computing functionalities to optical fibers in the future.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zhuoran Fang, Rui Chen, Jiajiu Zheng, Arka Majumdar
Summary: The use of phase change materials in silicon photonics has been gaining attention due to their high refractive index contrast between two states, which can be reversibly switched and non-volatile. Progress has been made in developing photonic switches based on PCM for photonic integrated circuits, showing great potential for future applications in this field.
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
Aleksandra Kaszubowska-Anandarajah, Syed Tajammul Ahmad, Chris G. H. Roeloffzen, Paulus W. L. van Dijk, Ankit Sharma, Manas Srivastava, Prajwal D. Lakshmijayasimha, M. Deseada Gutierrez Pascual, Frank Smyth, Jules Braddell, Prince M. Anandarajah
Summary: A reconfigurable photonic integrated transmitter, allowing dynamic resource allocation in the metro-access network, is proposed. It is composed of a multicarrier sliceable bandwidth variable transmitter (MC-SBVT) made of indium phosphide and a silicon-nitride-based optical cross-connect (OXC). The architecture provides full flexibility in data format/bandwidth choice, channel spacing, and wavelength assignment. The functional design and practical realization of the MC-SBVT and OXC, as well as preliminary characterization results, demonstrating device reconfigurability, are discussed.
JOURNAL OF OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jose Roberto Rausell Campo, Daniel Perez-Lopez
Summary: This article discusses the implementation of nonlinear activation functions in optical neural networks and compares the response of different electro-optic architectures. The study demonstrates that ring assisted MZI and two-ring assisted MZI have the highest expressivity among the proposed structures. The article also presents a quantitative analysis of the capabilities of optical devices to mimic state-of-the-art activation functions, and benchmarks the obtained activation functions on two machine learning examples.
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
N. Ayyanar, K. Sreekanth, G. Thavasi Raja, M. S. Mani Rajan
Summary: The study introduces a photonic crystal fiber sensor based on Ge-2 Sb-2 Te-5 phase change chalcogenide material, enabling refractive index sensing at near infrared wavelengths through structural phase modulation. The sensor demonstrates a high figure of merit and can detect various biomolecules within the refractive index range of 1.35 to 1.40.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NANOBIOSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bishal Bhandari, Sang-Shin Lee
Summary: A reconfigurable fiber-to-waveguide coupling module is proposed, which allows for both grating-assisted and end-fire coupling in the same photonic circuit. By using a switchable directional coupler and phase-change material, the coupling mode can be altered. Simulation and analysis validate the effectiveness of the module.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianghong Wu, Yuting Ye, Jialing Jian, Xiaoping Yao, Junying Li, Bo Tang, Hui Ma, Maoliang Wei, Wenbin Li, Hongtao Lin, Lan Li
Summary: This study explores the thermally driven reversible phase transitions in two-dimensional In2Se3, as well as its potential applications in photonics. The reversible phase changes within the beta phase family and changes in optoelectronic properties make it suitable for integrated photonic applications.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Heidar Keshavarz, S. Esmail Hosseini, Kambiz Jamshidi, Dirk Plettemeier
Summary: In this paper, an integrated microwave photonic reconfigurable mixer, phase shifter, and frequency doubler based on silicon photonics platform is proposed and theoretically investigated. The structure consists of a novel DDMZM and PM, and can be configured for various functions such as phase tunable mixing, double-balanced mixing, up-converting, down-converting, RF frequency doubling, and phase shifting by adjusting optical wavelength and choosing the proper RF hybrid coupler. The proposed structure is theoretically analyzed and verified through simulations.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhuoran Fang, Jiajiu Zheng, Abhi Saxena, James Whitehead, Yueyang Chen, Arka Majumdar
Summary: This study experimentally demonstrated the strong optical phase modulation and low optical loss of Sb2S3 at wavelengths of 750 nm and 1550 nm, showcasing the thermal stability of the Sb2S3-Si hybrid platform and an electrically tunable Sb2S3 integrated non-volatile microring switch with a high-contrast transmission state over 30 dB.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mikhail Y. Shalaginov, Sensong An, Yifei Zhang, Fan Yang, Peter Su, Vladimir Liberman, Jeffrey B. Chou, Christopher M. Roberts, Myungkoo Kang, Carlos Rios, Qingyang Du, Clayton Fowler, Anuradha Agarwal, Kathleen A. Richardson, Clara Rivero-Baleine, Hualiang Zhang, Juejun Hu, Tian Gu
Summary: This study introduces an active metasurface platform with all-dielectric, low-loss architecture for phase tuning in the full 2 range and diffraction-limited performance. A new design principle enables binary switching between arbitrary phase profiles for metasurfaces, along with a figure-of-merit tailored for reconfigurable meta-optics. The high-performance varifocal metalens with a record large switching contrast ratio and aberration-free, multi-depth imaging represents a key experimental demonstration of non-mechanical tunable metalens with diffraction-limited performance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Optics
Shoujun Zhang, Xieyu Chen, Kuan Liu, Haiyang Li, Yuehong Xu, Xiaohan Jiang, Yihan Xu, Qingwei Wang, Tun Cao, Zhen Tian
Summary: This article introduces a nonvolatile, reconfigurable, and dynamic Janus metasurface using phase-change material Ge2Se2Te5 (GST) in the terahertz (THz) regime. The reversible switching characteristic of GST on large areas is demonstrated, and a multiplex metasurface scheme is proposed. Various applications such as dynamic beam splitter, bifocal metalens, and switchable metalens/focusing optical vortex generators are designed and experimentally characterized. The development of multifunctional and compact THz devices can be facilitated by this scheme.
PHOTONICS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhihai Liu, Xiang Li, Siying Cheng, Yaru Li, Wei Jin, Yu Zhang, Yifan Qin, Yaxun Zhang, Shanshan Li, Andriy Lotnyk, Libo Yuan
Summary: The control of information is essential in the information age, and the optical modulator plays a crucial role in optical networks. All-optical modulation methods have advantages over electro-optic modulators, but require continuous power supply for processing and retaining data, resulting in increased energy consumption. We propose an integrated Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) optical modulator for in-fiber operation, achieving modulation of output light intensity. The device demonstrates high interference intensity contrast in telecommunications bands and fast response time to pump pulses. It also operates as a scalar multiplication unit and a logic operation unit.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oleksandr Buchnev, James A. Grant-Jacob, Robert W. Eason, Nikolay I. Zheludev, Ben Mills, Kevin F. MacDonald
Summary: Researchers have developed a deep learning method based on prior experience to predict the postfabrication appearance of structures manufactured by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, which can expedite the optimization process and improve reproducibility in FIB processing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinxiang Li, Kevin F. MacDonald, Nikolay Zheludev
Summary: Nanomechanical photonic metamaterials exhibit thermal motion-induced fluctuations in optical properties, which can be controlled by light to tune metamaterial transmission. This tuning mechanism provides active control for photonic devices and serves as the basis for various types of sensors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Disheng Chen, Johannes E. Froch, Shihao Ru, Hongbing Cai, Naizhou Wang, Giorgio Adamo, John Scott, Fuli Li, Nikolay Zheludev, Igor Aharonovich, Weibo Gao
Summary: This study successfully observed resonance fluorescence from GeV color centers in diamond by using cross-polarization to suppress laser scattering and achieved two-photon interference based on single GeV color center. The single-shot readout of spin states was also demonstrated, laying the foundation for building a quantum network with GeV color centers in diamond.
Article
Optics
Apostolos Zdagkas, Cormac McDonnell, Junhong Deng, Yijie Shen, Guixin Li, Tal Ellenbogen, Nikitas Papasimakis, Nikolay I. Zheludev
Summary: Researchers have successfully realized toroidal light pulses in the optical and terahertz regions using tailored nanostructured meta-surfaces. This achievement opens up new possibilities for experimental studies on the applications of toroidal light pulses in energy and information transfer.
Article
Optics
Fei He, Yu Feng, Hailong Pi, Jize Yan, Kevin F. MacDonald, Xu Fang
Summary: All-dielectric metalenses are compact and lightweight alternatives to conventional bulk glass/crystal lenses. The focal properties of these metalenses can be switched via coherent control without changing the physical or geometric properties of the nanostructure or surrounding medium.
Article
Physics, Applied
Anton N. Vetlugin, Cesare Soci, Nikolay Zheludev
Summary: This article introduces an alternative modeling approach for photonic devices by using a quantum computer to simulate their functionality. Taking the quantum interference of light as an example, the superior performance of this method in reproducing real optical experiments is demonstrated. This research is of great importance for modeling complex multi-photon optical phenomena and devices.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tongjun Liu, Jun-Yu Ou, Nikitas Papasimakis, Kevin F. MacDonald, Vitalyi E. Gusev, Nikolay Zheludev
Summary: Flexural oscillations play a significant role in the properties and applications of two-dimensional and nanostructured materials. This study reports the observation of short-time ballistic motion in the flexural mode of a nanomembrane cantilever, and provides insights into fast thermometry and mass sensing.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Paulo Robalinho, Beatriz Soares, Antonio Lobo, Susana Silva, Orlando Frazao
Summary: This paper presents a different Fiber Loop Mirror (FLM) configuration with two circulators, and demonstrates its use for strain and torsion discrimination. The configuration achieves high sensitivity in strain measurement and torsion characterization. It allows for control of the free spectral range (FSR) and achieving refractive index differences higher than 10(-2), making it essential for high sensitivity physical parameter sensors.
Article
Optics
Liliana Soares, Rosa Ana Perez-Herrera, Susana Novais, Antonio Ferreira, Susana Silva, Orlando Frazao
Summary: Process Analytical Technology (PAT) is increasingly used in the pharmaceutical industry to monitor essential parameters in real-time. This study presents and demonstrates a refractometric sensor, based on an Erbium-Doped Fiber Ring Cavity (EDFRC) interrogation system. The sensor detected variations of paracetamol concentration with high sensitivity and resolution, showcasing its potential as a non-invasive PAT tool.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tongjun Liu, Cheng-Hung Chi, Jun-Yu Ou, Jie Xu, Eng Aik Chan, Kevin F. MacDonald, Nikolay I. Zheludev
Summary: By using deep-learning analysis of topologically structured light scattering, we have achieved optical imaging and metrology of nanostructures with subatomic precision, bridging the resolution gap between optical techniques and atomic-scale transmission electron microscopy.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Tongjun Liu, Jun-Yu Ou, Kevin F. MacDonald, Nikolay I. Zheludev
Summary: Researchers have successfully achieved a continuous time crystal by utilizing a two-dimensional array of plasmonic metamolecules supported on flexible nanowires. By illuminating the metamolecules with continuous coherent light resonant with their plasmonic mode, a spontaneous phase transition to a superradiant-like state of transmissivity oscillations was triggered, demonstrating long-range order in both space and time. This phenomenon is significant for studying dynamic classical many-body states in the strongly correlated regime and has potential applications in all-optical modulation, frequency conversion, and timing.
Editorial Material
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nikolay I. Zheludev, David Wilkowski
Summary: Toroidal electrodynamics is influencing research in toroidal, anapole metamaterials, optical properties of nanoparticles, plasmonics, sensors, and lasers. A recent publication on toroidal optical transitions in hydrogen-like atoms promises to launch a new chapter in spectroscopy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dimitrios Papas, Jun-Yu Ou, Eric Plum, Nikolay I. Zheludev
Summary: Metastable optically controlled devices (optical flip-flops) are important in various applications. However, the weak optical nonlinearities have hindered the development of low-power bistable devices. This work introduces a new type of volatile optical bistability in a hybrid nano-optomechanical device, which can be switched between bistable optical states with microwatts of optical power and its volatile memory can be erased by removing the acoustic signal.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Beatriz Soares, Susana Silva, Paulo Ribeiro, Orlando Frazao
Summary: In this study, a new configuration based on a 3x3 coupler and two fiber loop mirrors in series is demonstrated. This compact configuration allows for exploration of the Vernier effect. Experimental results show a sensitivity of 74.9 +/- 0.2 pm/ mu epsilon for the Vernier envelope and 6.41 +/- 0.01 pm/mu epsilon for the Vernier carrier. A magnification factor of 5.2 for the Vernier envelope is obtained compared to using only one fiber loop mirror interferometer. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show good agreement with the experimental data.
IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Liliana Soares, Cristina Cunha, Susana Novais, Antonio Ferreira, Orlando Frazao, Susana Silva
Summary: This letter proposes a multimode graded-index fiber tip sensor for measuring ethanol in ethanol-water mixtures, which can accurately measure variations in ethanol content at different temperatures.
IEEE SENSORS LETTERS
(2023)
