Analysis and design of novel photon-electron-interaction nanodevices for emerging applications

This research program aims at developing the next generation of disruptive nanoscale photonic devices with on-chip amplification for applications in telecommunications (switching), biomedicine (sensing), energy (solar harvesting), information (signal processing), and other emerging technological, commercial, and consumer areas. The objectives are to establish theoretical, experimental, and technological platforms for nanophotonic functional elements with built-in optoelectronic gain capabilities in order to control and manipulate photons at ultra-high speeds. The proposed research will address the challenging issues of the theory, experiment and applications of optoelectronic interaction effects and their exploitation in photonic devices at the nanoscale. The research will concentrate on understanding concepts of obtaining optical amplification via extracting the energy from moving free electrons in solid-state materials, and exploiting nonlinearities and plasmonic interactions. The investigations will centre around the behaviour of photons in the electrons’ environment with a focus on the means of bringing optical waves and electron-containing media into active interactions within optoelectronic materials while using their structural properties. Silicon, and other semiconductor materials such as graphene will be studied. Generic active nanophotonic elements will be investigated that are technologically compatible and integrable onto a common semiconductor platform for photon-electron functionalities implemented in application-specific nanoarchitectures. An integral part of the objectives is training highly qualified job-ready personnel in computer-aided modelling, simulations, and structure design of nanophotonic devices in terahertz and optical regions, in characterization and testing of fabricated samples, and in working closely with industrial partners to acquire practical experience. The research will transform our theoretical, modelling, simulation and design results into novel advanced nanophotonic devices with expected superb performance parameters such as on-chip built-in amplification/loss compensation, ultra-high operation speeds, robust sensing, and energy efficiency. This will lead to significant innovation thus contributing to further development of nanophotonic integrated components. New knowledge will be discovered from our planned studies of photon-electron interactions. It will lead to a long-term impact on photonics and its broad applications in many other areas such applied mathematics, physics, telecommunications, sensing and analysis of medical data, information processing, engineering, defense, and other emerging application areas. Students trained in the proposed research will be graduating with unique skills in the general area of nanotechnology and nanophotonics. This will make them job-ready and highly employable while being able to contribute actively to the further development of economic wealth of Canada.