Development of Metamaterials with Form-Induced Birefringence

Photonic crystals fabricated using two-photon polymerization (SEM, left) showing a strong contrast in the cross-polarized reflectance (right) obtained at
(λ ≅ 6.5 μm) due to the form-induced birefringence in the photonic crystals.

Target Application: FPAs for polarization sensitive detection with high spatial resolution.

M. Lata, Y. Li, S. Park, M. McLamb, and T. Hofmann, “Direct laser writing of birefringent photonic crystals for the infrared spectral range”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 8, 062905 (2019), Editor’s Pick
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tino Hofmann
Site: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Novel Enhanced Sensor Functionalities of Coupled Resonators and Sensors

Novel method of suction assembly of microspheres in high quality arrays and the study of optical supermodes and spectral signatures of photonic molecules.

Target Application: Infrared focal plane arrays, sensors, delay lines, filters, and laser resonator arrays

F. Abolmaali, A. Brettin, A. Green, N. I. Limberopoulos, A. M. Urbas, and V.N. Astratov, "Photonic jets for highly efficient mid-IR focal plane arrays with large angle-of-view", Optics express, Optical Society of America , 2017, 25, 31174-31185
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Vasily Astratov
Site: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Design of Metasurface Dielectric Perfect Absorbers
for ×60 enhanced absorption

Polarization-insensitive all-dielectric metasurface for light concentration to enable absorption in 75-nm absorber equivalent to a 5-μm absorber (x66 reduction in thickness).

Target Application: Focal plane arrayss with enhanced signal to noise ratio or higher operating temperature (HOT).
 

 

 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tsing-Hua Her
Site: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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New Cell Phone Microscopes

Virtual imaging through high-index spheres allows obtaining micron-scale resolution comparable to standard microscopes.

Target Application: Cell phone-based portable microscopes.

A. Brettin, F. Abolmaali, K. F. Blanchette, C. L. McGinnis, Y. E. Nesmelov, N. I. Limberopoulos, D. E. Walker Jr., I. Anisimov, A. M. Urbas, L. Poffo, A. V. Maslov and V.N. Astratov, "Enhancement of resolution in microspherical nanoscopy by coupling of fluorescent objects to plasmonic metasurfaces", Applied Physics Letters, AIP Publishing , 2019, 114, 131101
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Vasily Astratov
Site: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Crossover and interplay of Fano resonance and Rabi splitting of alloy metasurface strongly coupled with dye molecules

Regime of coupling in silver-gold alloy nanoparticle film coated with Rhodamine B molecules can be governed by tuning the damping rate of plasmonic resonance.

Target Application: Hybrid thin film for tunable laser modulation at different wavelengths and powers.
 

 

 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Zijie Yan
Site: Clarkson University
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Hyperbolic Metamaterials for Hyperspectral

and Multispectral Imaging

Hyperbolic metamaterials (left) allow for chip-sized optical and infrared filters with custom designed optical filtering properties. These filters are much reduced in size compared to existing technologies. Such metamaterials allow for light weight, robust hyperspectral and multi-wavelength imaging systems.

Target Application: Hyperspectral and multispectral imaging on space-based, drones and UAVs, and hand-held devices.

G. Mirbagheri, D. Crouse, K. Dunn, I. Bendoym, "Metamaterials based hyperspectral and multi-wavelength filters for imaging applications", Image Sensing Technologies: Materials, Devices, Systems, and Applications VI , 2019, 10980, 109800A
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. David Crouse
Site: Clarkson University
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Materials Design for Optoelectronics

Monolayers are stacked to form digital-like band structures for tuning of optoelectronic properties. In addition, a circular hole array fabricated on top of GaN material for visible light biosensor project

Target Application: Deep ultraviolet and visible optoelectronics including light emitting diodes, lasers, and photodetectors.

W. Sun, C. -K. Tan, N. Tansu "AIN/GaN Digital alloy for mid-and deep-ultraviolet optoelectronics", Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group , 2017, 7, 11826
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Chee-Keong Tan
Site: Clarkson University
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Metamaterial Modeling and Design Code

Rigorous Coupled Wave and Modal Analysis design and modeling tools have been developed that allow for fast and accurate design and modeling of metamaterials. The tools have user friendly graphical user interfaces and materials datasets. This project has contributed to numerous SBIR/STTR and NASA ACT projects in the design and modeling of metamaterials.

Target Application: Sensor development (i.e., hyperspectral, multispectral, and polarimetric), chemical and biological sensing.

D. Crouse, "Numerical modeling and electromagnetic resonant modes in complex grating structures and optoelectronic device applications", IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, IEEE, 2005, 52, 2365-2373
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. David Crouse
Site: Clarkson University
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Ultrasonic monitoring of additive manufacturing processes with metamaterial artifacts

In our in-situ/real-time monitoring approach, for the first time, we demonstrated that the spectral characteristics of elastic wave propagation in a specially designed artifact with periodic internal structures can be used to monitor AM/3DP quality and process parameters. The unique aspect of our approach is that we monitor a geometrically simple artifact (as opposed to the actual build) representing the complexities of a build.

Target Application: Such artifacts we design are used to qualify the state of the printing machine, its processes and the quality of the material(s)

X. Xu, C. K. P. Vallabh, A. Krishnan, S. Volk, and C. Cetinkaya, "In-Process Thread Orientation Monitoring in Additive Manufacturing", 3D Printing and Additive Manufactuing, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2019, 6, 21-30
 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cetin Cetinkaya
Site: Clarkson University
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MWIR Light Concentrators

Anisotropic wet etching of Si for making light-concentrating structures in mid-wave infrared (MWIR) range.

Target Application: MWIR light concentrators to reduce the noise.

V. Astratov, A. Brettin, N.I. Limberopoulos, A. Urabas, "Photodetector focal plane array systems and methods based on microcomponents with arbitrary shapes", Google Patents, 2019  

Principal Investigator: Dr. Vasily Astratov
Site: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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