Publications

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Metallic films much thinner than the skin depth can support surface plasmon modes whose dispersion approaches the plasma frequency, giving rise to the so-called epsilon-near-zero mode. We analyse its features and observation conditions. © 2015 OSA.

We employ both the effective medium approximation (EMA) and Bloch theory to compare the dispersion properties of semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials (SHMs) at mid-infrared frequencies and metallic hyperbolic metamaterials (MHMs) at visible frequencies. This analysis reveals the conditions under which the EMA can be safely applied for both MHMs and SHMs. We find that the combination of precise nanoscale layering and the longer infrared operating wavelengths puts the SHMs well within the effective medium limit and, in contrast to MHMs, allows for the attainment of very high photon momentum states. In addition, SHMs allow for new phenomena such as ultrafast creation of the hyperbolic manifold through optical pumping. In particular, we examine the possibility of achieving ultrafast topological transitions through optical pumping which can photo-dope appropriately designed quantum wells on the femtosecond time scale.

Ultrafast optical excitation of photocarriers has the potential to transform undoped semiconductor superlattices into semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials (SHMs). In this paper, we investigate the optical properties associated with such ultrafast topological transitions. We first show reflectance, transmittance, and absorption under TE and TM plane wave incidence. In the unpumped state, the superlattice exhibits a frequency region with high reflectance (>80%) and a region with low reflectance (<1%) for both TE and TM polarizations over a wide range of incidence angles. In contrast, in the photopumped state, the reflectance for both frequencies and polarizations is very low (<1%) for a similar range of angles. Interestingly, this system can function as an all-optical reflection switch on ultrafast timescales. Furthermore, for TM incidence and close to the epsilon-near-zero point of the longitudinal permittivity, directional perfect absorption on ultrafast timescales may also be achieved. Finally, we discuss the onset of negative refraction in the photopumped state.

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(Figure Presented) We present the design, realization, and characterization of optical strong light-matter coupling between intersubband transitions within a semiconductor heterostructures and planar metamaterials in the near-infrared spectral range. The strong light-matter coupling entity consists of a III-nitride intersubband superlattice heterostructure, providing a two-level system with a transition energy of ∼0.8 eV (λ ∼1.55 μm) and a planar "dogbone" metamaterial structure. As the bare metamaterial resonance frequency is varied across the intersubband resonance, a clear anticrossing behavior is observed in the frequency domain. This strongly coupled entity could enable the realization of electrically tunable optical filters, a new class of efficient nonlinear optical materials, or intersubband-based light-emitting diodes.

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We demonstrate numerically that two-dimensional arrays of ultrathin CdTe nano-cylinders on Ag can serve as an effective broadband anti-reflection structure for solar cell applications. Such devices exhibit strong absorption properties, mainly in the CdTe semiconductor regions, and can produce short-circuit current densities of 23.4 mA/cm2, a remarkable number in the context of solar cells given the ultrathin dimensions of our nano-cylinders. The strong absorption is enabled via excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) under plane wave incidence. In particular, we identified the key absorption mechanism as enhanced fields of the SPP standing waves residing at the interface of CdTe nano-cylinders and Ag. We compare the performance of Ag, Au, and Al substrates, and observe significant improvement when using Ag, highlighting the importance of using low-loss metals. Although we use CdTe here, the proposed approach is applicable to other solar cell materials with similar absorption properties. © 2014 Optical Society of America.

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We theoretically analyze the second harmonic generation capacity of two-dimensional periodic metamaterials comprising sub-wavelength resonators strongly coupled to intersubband transitions in quantum wells (QWs) at mid-infrared frequencies. The metamaterial is designed to support a fundamental resonance at ∼30THz and an orthogonally polarized resonance at the second harmonic frequency (∼60THz), while the asymmetric quantum well structure is designed to provide a large second order susceptibility. Upon continuous wave illumination at the fundamental frequency we observe second harmonic signals in both the forward and backward directions, with the forward efficiency being larger. We calculate the overall second harmonic conversion efficiency of the forward wave to be ∼1.3×10-2 W/W2 - a remarkably large value, given the deep sub-wavelength dimensions of the QW structure (about 1/15th of the free space wavelength of 10μm). The results shown in this Letter provide a strategy for designing easily fabricated sources across the entire infrared spectrum through proper choice of QW and resonator designs. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

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We have demonstrated single-mode lasing in a single gallium nitride nanowire using distributed feedback by external coupling to a dielectric grating. By adjusting the nanowire grating alignment we achieved a mode suppression ratio of 17dB.