We propose and numerically investigate an efficient transmission-mode metasurface that consists of quasi- continuous trapezoid-shaped crystalline silicon nanoantennas on a quartz substrate. This metasurface provides a linear phase gradient and realizes both full 2Jr phase shift and high transmission efficiency in the operating wavelength range from 740 to 780 nm. At the central wavelength around 751 nm, the total transmission efficiency is up to 88.0% and the section of the desired anomalous refraction is 80.4%. The anomalous refraction angle is 29.62°, and larger refraction angle can be achieved by changing the period of the super cell. We demonstrate a refraction angle as large as 38.59°, and the anomalous transmission efficiency reaches 76.6% at wavelength of 741 nm. It is worth mentioning that the structure is much simpler than conventional metasurfaces based on arrays of discrete nanoantennas. Our research may pave the way for designing efficient all-dielectric phase-gradient metasurfaces and applying them in integrated optical devices for wavefront control.
LIU YANGDONG WUYUMIN LIUCHANG LIUZENGHUI XUHUI LIZHONGYUAN YULI YURAN YE
We investigate the effect of disorder and mechanical deformation on a two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide. The dispersion characteristics and transmittance of the waveguide are studied using the finite element method. Results show that the geometric change of the dielectric material perpendicular to the light propagation direction has a larger influence on the waveguide characteristics than that parallel to the light propagation direction. Mechanical deformation has an obvious influence on the performance of the waveguide. In particular, longitudinal deformed structure exhibits distinct optical characteristics from the ideal one. Studies on this work will provide useful guideline to the fabrication and practical applications based on photonic crystal waveguides.
Hybrid plasmon waveguides, respectively, with metamaterial substrate and dielectric substrate are investigated and analyzed contrastively with a numerical finite element method. Basic properties, including propagation length Lp, effective mode area Aeff, and energy distribution, are obtained and compared with waveguide geometric parameters at 1.55 gin. For the waveguide with metamaterial substrate, propagation length Lp increases to several tens of microns and effective mode area Aeff is reduced by more than 3 times. Moreover, the near field region is expanded, leading to potential applications in nanophotonics. Therefore, it could be very helpful for improving the integration density in optical chips and developing functional components on a nanometer scale for all optical integrated circuits.
The strain and electron energy levels of InAs/GaAs（001） quantum dots （QDs） with a GaNAs strain compensation layer （SCL） are investigated. The results show that both the hydrostatic and biaxiai strain inside the QDs with a GaNAs SCL are reduced compared with those with GaAs capping layers. Moreover, most of the compressive strain in the growth surface is compensated by the tensile strain of the GaNAs SCL, which implies that the influence of the strain environment of underlying QDs upon the next-layer QDs＇ growth surface is weak and suggests that the homogeneity and density of QDs can be improved. Our results are consistent with the published experimental literature. A GaNAs SCL is shown to influence the strain and band edge. As is known, the strain and the band offset affect the electronic structure, which shows that the SCL is proved to be useful to tailor the emission wavelength of QDs. Our research helps to better understand how the strain compensation technology can be applied to the growth of stacked QDs, which are useful in solar cells and laser devices.
A novel scheme for the design of an ultra-compact and high-performance optical switch is proposed and investigated numerically. Based on a standard silicon(Si) photonic stripe waveguide, a section of hyperbolic metamaterials(HMM) consisting of 20-pair alternating vanadium dioxide (VO_2)∕Si thin layers is inserted to realize the switching of fundamental TE mode propagation. Finite-element-method simulation results show that, with the help of an HMM with a size of 400 nm × 220 nm × 200 nm(width × height × length), the ON/OFF switching for fundamental TE mode propagation in an Si waveguide can be characterized by modulation depth(MD) of5.6 d B and insertion loss(IL) of 1.25 dB. It also allows for a relatively wide operating bandwidth of 215 nm maintaining MD > 5 dB and IL < 1.25 dB. Furthermore, we discuss that the tungsten-doped VO_2 layers could be useful for reducing metal-insulator-transition temperature and thus improving switching performance. In general, our findings may provide some useful ideas for optical switch design and application in an on-chip all-optical communication system with a demanding integration level.
We show nanomechanical force is useful to dynamically control the optical response of self-assembled quantum dots, giving a method to shift electron and heavy hole levels, interval of electron and heavy hole energy levels, and the emission wavelength of quantum dots （QDs）. The strain, the electron energy levels, and heavy hole energy levels of InAs/GaAs（001） quantum dots with vertical nanomechanical force are investigated. Both the lattice mismatch and nanomechanical force are considered at the same time. The results show that the hydrostatic and the biaxial strains inside the QDs subjected to nanomechanical force vary with nanomechanical force. That gives the control for tailoring band gaps and optical response. Moreover, due to strain-modified energy, the band edge is also influenced by nanomechanical force. The nanomechanical force is shown to influence the band edge. As is well known, the band offset affects the electronic structure, which shows that the nanomechanical force is proven to be useful to tailor the emission wavelength of QDs. Our research helps to better understand how the nanomechanical force can be used to dynamically control the optics of quantum dots.
A nonlinear hybrid plasmonic slot waveguide composed of periodically poled lithium niobate(PPLN) and two separated silver films is investigated. The e?ective refractive index, propagation length, and energy confinement of the hybrid anti-symmetric mode in this waveguide are calculated using the structure parameters at the fundamental wavelength of λ = 1550 nm and its second harmonic(SH) λ = 775 nm. Through the above indices, coupling e?ciency(maximum SH conversion e?ciency during propagation) and peak position(propagation location of the conversion e?ciency) of SH generation are analyzed. Finally, higher conversion e?ciency can be achieved at a shorter propagation distance by changing the waveguide into a tapered structure.
