The functions of this lab are to (1) provide experimental modules for the Photonics Laboratory course, PHYS/ECE 5250, and (2) support photonics-on-chip research.
In the microwave range, we currently have a Cascade probe station and a 10 W 0.8-18 GHz source which allows characterization of transmission lines such as coplanar waveguides, microstrips, striplines and novel designs fabricated at Nanoscale Device Lab. We can use a 10 GHz/1 GHz RF source and analyzer to characterize a variety of antenna designs. Research interests involving integrated microwave photonics include waveform generation, optical modulation, wavelength conversion, and reconfigurable antennas.
In the visible to near infrared range, we will use conventional optical elements, laser sources, photosensors and power meters to study wave properties of light such as polarization, interferometry, vortex beam generation and characterization. In addition to free-space optics, we plan to improve on-chip devices to manipulate wave polarization, wave propagation, frequency, beam splitting, coupling between devices, and optical signal modulation. We are interested in developing e-beam lithography to create resonators, two-dimensional photonic crystals, and metasurfaces to control light emission and propagation. We aim to create low-power-consumption components for photonic integrated circuits for applications such as quantum information processing and artificial neural networks.
One major goal of this laboratory is to develop on-chip devices to prepare and manipulate quantum states of electromagnetic fields; i.e., photons. Conventionally, single and entangled photons can be generated by continuous wave lasers, non-linear crystals, and bulk optical elements on optical tables and characterized by single photon detectors, coincident counting electronics, and Mach-Zehner interferometers. To implement practical quantum technologies, all these components must be integrated on chips. There is plenty of room for research to improve the size, dispersion, and efficiency of the existing devices to advance the integration between electronics and photonics.