Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

We propose an integrated five-year research program that spans research topics ranging from fundamental aspects of optical physics to aspects of applied engineering photonics. Within this broader context, this document highlights two specific research projects. One entails studies of a photonic material recently uncovered by the PI that possesses an extremely large (largest ever measured!), ultrafast nonlinear response associated with its epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) spectral region. We will study the nature of this huge nonlinear response, its implications for photonics applications, and the novel physics permitted by the combination of small dielectric permittivity and large nonlinearity. The other project entails the use of nanofabrication methods to manufacture new photonic surfaces, structures and devices. A particular goal of this part of the work is to develop a miniature, chip-scale spectrometer. A spectrometer of this sort holds great promise for the betterment of society, including the development of portable diagnostic equipment for the health sciences and field-ready equipment to thwart terrorism threats. Our program of research is important for a variety of reasons. It should lead to increased understanding of basic processes in optical physics, such as how the processes of spontaneous emission and superradiance are modified under ENZ conditions. It will also lead to increased understanding of the origin of optical nonlinearities and of why some materials are more nonlinear (in some cases dramatically so) than others. There are also practical implications to this work. One aim is to develop highly miniature (chip-scale) optical spectrometers with a spectral resolution comparable to those of laboratory-sized devices. The unprecedentedly good spectral resolution of our device is achieved by placing a highly dispersive material (a slow-light medium) within one arm of an interferometer. Such a device lends itself to myriads of application, including environmental pollution sensing, biomedical monitoring, and the detection of chemical terrorism threats. Moreover, our work on the modification of the properties of spontaneous emission should lead to means for dramatically increasing the efficiency of solid-state-lighting sources. This work has enormous commercial implications. These applications will be of benefit to Canadian society and the infrastructure to be developed will be of interest to the scientific community. This work will provide undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral HQP with highly desired skills related to photonics technology, making them attractive and competitive candidates for employment in academia, industry and government