Toward a mechanistic understanding of plasmon-mediated photocatalysis
One of the most exciting new developments in the plasmonic nanomaterials field is the discovery of their ability to mediate a number of photocatalytic reactions. Since the initial prediction of driving chemical reactions with plasmons in the 1980s, the field …
Waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
Integration of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with nanophotonic waveguides is a key technological step that enables a broad range of classical and quantum technologies on chip-scale platforms. The excellent detection efficiency, timing and …
Acoustic phonons in nanowires probed by ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy
The fascinating relationship between structure and property in nanowires has enabled a wealth of applications in photonics and electronics. The behavior of phonons in nanowires is also modified compared to their bulk counterparts. In this review, we provide …
Germanium-based integrated photonics from near- to mid-infrared applications
Germanium (Ge) has played a key role in silicon photonics as an enabling material for datacom applications. Indeed, the unique properties of Ge have been leveraged to develop high performance integrated photodectors, which are now mature devices. Ge is also …
Recent progress in terahertz difference-frequency quantum cascade laser sources
Terahertz quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources based on intra-cavity difference frequency generation are currently the only electrically pumped monolithic semiconductor light sources operating at room temperature in the 1–6-THz spectral range. Relying on the …
Optically processed microlens array for single-beam lithography of plasmonic structures
A 2D dielectric grating produced by photolithography was employed as a microlens array (MLA), which was based on a smooth surface and a shape that may be defined roughly as a hemisphere of each lattice. Such a 2D MLA can focus an incident ultraviolet light …
Thermally robust ring-shaped chromium perfect absorber of visible light
A number of light-absorbing devices based on plasmonic materials have been reported, and their device efficiencies (or absorption) are high enough to be used in real-life applications. Many light-absorbing applications such as thermophotovoltaics and …
Epsilon-near-zero medium for optical switches in a monolithic waveguide chip at 1.9 ?m
A saturable absorber is a building block for integrated ultrafast photonics and passive optical circuits. However, options currently available suffer from the bottlenecks of the necessity for fine control of the material preparation, large optical losses, and …