We design large aperture, all-silicon meta-optic doublets for unidirectional and synergistic imaging at a wavelength of 4 μm. When illuminated by a plane wave in the forward mode, our unidirectional imager generates an intense spot on its optic axis at a predefined focal length. In the reverse mode, the imaging performance is significantly reduced, accompanied by a dramatic reduction in light intensity on the focal plane. On the other hand, our synergistic imager is optimized to focus an incoming plane wave only when its constituent meta-optics are used in conjunction with each other. We envision our devices to provide new avenues for the development of metamaterial imaging platforms for applications in defense and data security.
We investigate correlations between the configuration statistics of random metasurfaces and their spectral response. Our metasurfaces consist of a two-dimensional array of silicon nanopillars with widths sampled from a normal distribution placed on a silica substrate. We explore the effect of tuning the parameters characterizing the distribution of nanopillar widths on the wavelength-dependent transmissivity of the random metasurface in the 400 – 800 nm wavelength range. This analysis helps us create a direct mapping between the parameters of the nanopillar width distribution and the spectral responses of the random metasurfaces. We exploit this mapping to design a photonic device encoding spectrally encrypted image data in the visible wavelength range. Our findings offer new insight into the optical properties of random media and provide avenues for developing such systems for a broad range of applications.
We present an encryption system consisting of an electrically tunable metasurface and a matched detector for secure encryption of grayscale images in the 8 – 12 μm wavelength range. In the proposed scheme, the encrypted image corresponds to the spatially varying thermal intensity of the metasurface as captured by its matched detector. Using examples of single and multi-image encryption, we show that the optical properties of either the metasurface or matched detector alone do not reveal any meaningful information about the encrypted image, thereby validating the security of the proposed scheme. The electrical tunability of the metasurface provides an additional layer of security as the image can only be retrieved by operating it at a predefined voltage level. Our results provide intriguing possibilities for the development of compact and secure object tagging and anti-counterfeiting applications in the infrared.
We have designed an infrared absorber with an electrically switchable narrowband resonance. The absorbers are two identical, coupled, metal-semiconductor-metal resonators that support a dark supermode. The semiconductor layer of the resonators is gallium arsenide, which has a refractive index shift under applied voltage. Electrically tuning one of the coupled resonators breaks the symmetry of the system and allows the dark supermode to couple to an incoming plane wave, producing a narrowband absorption resonance. Our designed absorber is predicted to achieve an absorption modulation of 97% when switching from 0V to 1.65V.
We propose a graphene-based metamaterial for achieving tunable spectral absorptivity in the infrared. The metamaterial is modeled as a periodic array of electrically-tunable, coupled resonators. The structural parameters of the resonators are chosen to implement a dark-bright mode coupling scheme in the context of temporal coupled-mode theory. The spectral response of the metamaterial can be tuned from single-peaked to double-peaked absorption by tuning the resonance wavelengths of the constituent resonators relative to each other. Our results thus suggest the possibility of achieving tunable multi-band absorption using metamaterials composed of multiple coupled resonators.
The ability of metamaterials to manipulate optical waves in the spatial and spectral domain has provided opportunities for image encoding. This combined with recent advances in hyperspectral imaging suggest exciting new opportunities for secure encryption. In this work, we propose a multi-channel scheme for secure image transmission across multiple wavelength channels. In contrast to conventional encryption schemes that perform a 1-to-1 transformation on a given plain image, we propose a 1-to-n transformation. We show that our scheme provides security against attacks of varying complexity provided a reasonable number of spectral channels is used.
The ability to design multi-resonant thermal emitters is essential to the advancement of a wide variety of applications, including thermal management and sensing. These fields would greatly benefit from the development of efficient tools for predicting the spectral response of coupled, multi-resonator systems. In this work, we propose a semi-analytical prediction tool based on coupled-mode theory. We demonstrate the accuracy of our method by predicting and optimizing spectral response of a coupled, multi-resonator system based on hBN ribbons. Our approach greatly reduces the computational overhead associated with spectral design tasks in multi-resonator systems in addition to providing valuable physical insights.
We investigate methods for dynamic reshaping of the spectral and directional characteristics of thermal emissivity from warm objects, using micro patterning. In our design work, we propose infrared meta material structures for on/off switching of emissivity peaks. We use index perturbation to break the symmetry of a dark mode formed by coupling between a pair of resonators, allowing the mode to emit. We further introduce coupled cavity structures for which small index perturbations cause a large change in the dominant angle of thermal emission. In our experimental implementations, we demonstrate voltage tuning of spectral peaks in metamaterials based on epitaxial transfer of p-i-n GaAs structures to the intermediate layer of a MIM metamaterial.
We propose a graphene-based metamaterial for achieving tunable spectral absorptivity in the infrared. The metamaterial is modeled as a periodic array of electrically-tunable, coupled resonators. The structural parameters of the resonators are chosen to implement a dark-bright mode coupling scheme in the context of temporal coupled-mode theory. The spectral response of the metamaterial can be tuned from single-peaked to double-peaked absorption by tuning the resonance wavelengths of the constituent resonators relative to each other. Our results thus suggest the possibility of achieving tunable multi-band absorption using metamaterials composed of multiple coupled resonators.
The ability of metamaterials to manipulate optical waves in the spatial and spectral domain has provided opportunities for image encoding. This combined with recent advances in hyperspectral imaging suggest exciting new opportunities for secure encryption. In this work, we propose a multi-channel scheme for secure image transmission across multiple wavelength channels. In contrast to conventional encryption schemes that perform a 1-to-1 transformation on a given plain image, we propose a 1-to-n transformation. We show that our scheme provides security against attacks of varying complexity provided a reasonable number of spectral channels is used.
The ability to design multi-resonant thermal emitters is essential to the advancement of a wide variety of applications, including thermal management and sensing. These fields would greatly benefit from the development of efficient tools for predicting the spectral response of coupled, multi-resonator systems. In this work, we propose a semi-analytical prediction tool based on coupled-mode theory. We demonstrate the accuracy of our method by predicting and optimizing spectral response in a coupled, multi-resonator system based on hBN ribbons. Our approach greatly reduces the computational overhead associated with spectral design tasks in multi-resonator systems in addition to providing valuable physical insights.
We investigate strategies for designing metasurfaces with electrically reconfigurable infrared absorption and emission spectra. We use coupled-mode theory to provide a framework for design. One approach to tuning uses localized photonic resonators, while a second approach uses extended grating modes. We investigate the use of symmetry-breaking and period-doubling strategies to create, destroy, and shift spectral absorption lines. Such strategies are anticipated to be useful for the communication of information on multiple wavelength channels in the infrared.
We propose gold-vanadium dioxide microstructured emitters for which the difference in thermally radiated power between two predefined temperatures can be made positive, negative or zero via structural design. The emitter geometry is based on incorporating VO2 in a gold-dielectric-gold waveguide. Such a waveguide exhibits a temperature-dependent mode effective index owing to the phase-changing behavior of VO2. This in turn causes our emitters to exhibit a strongly temperature-dependent emissivity. We use our emitters to design a metasurface with a thermally-invertible spatial emission pattern. Such emitters could be useful for several intriguing applications such as remote temperature monitoring and thermoelectric power generation.
We investigate photonic design strategies for thermal emission control based on multi-resonator systems. Metamaterial resonators incorporating phase-change materials provide a temperature-tunable response. We identify a layer design for which the radiated power can be designed to either increase or decrease across a phase transition, simply by varying resonator length. Systems supporting both bright and dark modes offer increased design flexibility. We illustrate the use of tunable dark-dark coupling to extinguish thermal emissivity peaks.
We propose gold-vanadium dioxide microstructured emitters for which the difference in thermally radiated power between two predefined temperatures can be made positive, negative or zero via structural design. The emitter geometry is based on incorporating VO2 in a gold-dielectric-gold waveguide. Such a waveguide exhibits a temperature-dependent mode effective index owing to the phase-changing behavior of VO2. This in turn causes our emitters to exhibit a strongly temperature-dependent emissivity. We use our emitters to design a metasurface with a thermally-invertible spatial emission pattern. Such emitters could be useful for several intriguing applications such as remote temperature monitoring and thermoelectric power generation.
We propose a strategy for designing infrared absorbers with predefined spectral response using aluminum gratings as building blocks. We begin by defining 3 target spectra with resonances in the 7 – 15 micron wavelength range. Using FDTD simulations and interpolation, we create a reference library of aluminum gratings to investigate the relationship between their structural parameters and spectral properties. Next, we develop a search algorithm to find gratings from this library corresponding to resonances in the target spectra. Finally, we present an approach for designing hybrid structures from these gratings to generate each of the 3 target spectra.
We propose a gold -based nanostructured design for achieving enhanced absorption in black phosphorus (BP) thin films in the 3 – 5 microns wavelength range. We tune the design parameters to excite strongly localized radiation modes in layers of thicknesses ranging from 5 to 50 nm at 4 microns. In addition, we compute the absorption enhancement factor of these absorbers and compare it against the conventional 4n2 limit. For a BP layer thickness of 5 nm, we are able to achieve an enhancement of around 561 at a wavelength of 4 microns which is significantly greater than the conventional value of 34 for an isolated textured layer.
We propose a gold -based nanostructured design for achieving enhanced absorption in ultrathin black phosphorus (BP) layers in the 3 – 5 micron wavelength range. We tune the design parameters to excite strongly localized radiation modes in layers of thicknesses ranging from 5 to 50 nm at 4 micron. In addition, we compute the absorption enhancement factor of these absorbers and compare it against the conventional 4n^2 limit. For a BP layer thickness of 5 nm, we are able to achieve an enhancement of around 150 which is significantly greater than the conventional value of 4n^2 equal to 64 for an isolated textured BP layer.
We propose a strategy for designing infrared absorbers with predefined spectral response using aluminum gratings as building blocks. We begin by defining 3 target spectra with resonances in the 7 – 15 micron wavelength range. Using FDTD simulations and interpolation, we create a reference library of aluminum gratings to investigate the relationship between their structural parameters and spectral properties. Next, we develop a search algorithm to find gratings from this library corresponding to resonances in the target spectra. Finally, we present an approach for designing hybrid structures from these gratings to generate each of the 3 target spectra.
We propose gold micro-grating structures with VO2 filled slots as suitable emitters to achieve enhanced far-field thermal rectification. We numerically calculate the rectification ratio for two different approaches: peak extinction and peak shift. In the peak extinction approach, a change in temperature switches the coupling between a grating surface plasmon mode and far field on and off. In the peak shift approach it causes a shift in its resonant wavelength. In both these approaches, we discuss the effect of tuning the extinction coefficient of metallic and insulating VO2.
We present the design of tunable infrared absorbers/emitters based on hybrid metal / vanadium dioxide microstructures. We demonstrate tuning and extinction of infrared absorption peaks, based on the phase transition of vanadium dioxide from insulator to metal states. We assess the performance of specific optimized designs as thermal rectifiers, capable of allowing heat flow in one direction only. We optimize the structural parameters to maximize the rectification ratio. We then further adjust the material loss of the vanadium dioxide to determine the ideal loss values for this application. Intuitively, the results suggest that the loss in the metallic state should closely resemble that of the other metal used in the microstructure. The results thus suggest future directions for materials development efforts.
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