Beyond Photonics Limits: light-matter-interaction enhanced modulators and switches

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 – 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Regents 109
Volker Sorger
George Washington University, School of Engineering and Applied Science

This lecture covers emerging concepts of enhanced light-matter-interactions for opto-electronic devices, such as lasers, electro-optic modulators, solar cells. The aim of this research direction is to show that enhancing the field density inside photonic devices is able to outperform classical device limits, such as the modulation-speed limit for modulators and switches, the diffraction limit for lasers, or the Shockley-Queisser limit for solar cells. This talk with highlight details on the pioneering work on hybrid-plasmon waveguides, the first demonstration of plasmon lasers, nanometer-thing solar cells, and the first wavelength-scale electro-absorption modulators. A particular focus will be placed on the role of emerging materials such as Graphene-like materials and transparent conductive oxides.

REFRESHMENTS AT 3:20 PM IN REGENTS HALL 109

Host: Edward Van Keuren
Discussion Leader: Edward Van Keuren