Metamaterials for Nonlinear Coupling and Decoupling of Opto- Electronic and Mechanical Systems
The goal of this project is to investigate interactions between light and matter that
produces non-linear exchange of energy. In some
cases, we want this coupling and in other cases we don't. Consequently, this project
has two foci. The first is solar sails, where a solar sail is similar to a wind sail
but catches and reflects light rather than wind because in a solar sail, light that
is absorbed isn't reflected, therefore we don't have momentum transferred to the solar
sail, which results in diminished propulsion. So, here we want to minimize non-linear
interactions that result in the absorption of light. The second area examines the
interaction of terahertz (THz) radiation (infrared range of the light spectrum) and
matter. In this case, we want non-linear interactions between light and matter so
that we can transfer energy between the THz light and the electrons in the material,
which is critical to the next generation of
communications.
Funding
- Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-21-1-0456)