Issue 19 (2022)

Waveguide-integrated mid-IR photodetector and all-optical modulator based on interlayer excitons absorption in a WS_2/HfS_2 heterostructure

Waveguide-integrated mid-IR photodetector and all-optical modulator based on interlayer excitons absorption in a WS_2/HfS_2 heterostructure

Novel 2D van der Waals semiconductors facilitate the formation of heterostructures and thus support bandgap engineering for atomically thin modern photonic applications. When these heterostructures form a type II band structure, interlayer excitons (ILEs) are …

Inverse design of photonic and phononic topological insulators: a review

Inverse design of photonic and phononic topological insulators: a review

Photonic and phononic topological insulators (TIs) offer numerous opportunities for manipulating light and sound with high efficiency and resiliency. On the other hand, inverse design methodologies, such as gradient-based approaches, evolutionary approaches, …

Few-mode field quantization for multiple emitters

Few-mode field quantization for multiple emitters

The control of the interaction between quantum emitters using nanophotonic structures holds great promise for quantum technology applications, while its theoretical description for complex nanostructures is a highly demanding task as the electromagnetic (EM) …

Two-dimensional quantitative near-field phase imaging using square and hexagonal interference devices

Two-dimensional quantitative near-field phase imaging using square and hexagonal interference devices

We demonstrate the formation of the near field with non-trivial phase distribution using surface plasmon interference devices, and experimental quantitative imaging of that phase with near-field phase microscopy. The phase distribution formed with a single …

Inverse-designed dielectric cloaks for entanglement generation

Inverse-designed dielectric cloaks for entanglement generation

We investigate the generation of entanglement between two quantum emitters through the inverse-design engineering of their photonic environment. By means of a topology-optimization approach acting at the level of the electromagnetic Dyadic Green’s function, …

Direct growth of monolayer MoS_2 on nanostructured silicon waveguides

Direct growth of monolayer MoS_2 on nanostructured silicon waveguides

We report for the first time the direct growth of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayers on nanostructured silicon-on-insulator waveguides. Our results indicate the possibility of utilizing the Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) on nanostructured photonic …

Observation of intrinsic crystal phase in bare few-layer CrI_3

Observation of intrinsic crystal phase in bare few-layer CrI_3

Intrinsic structural phase is a crucial foundation for the fundamental physical properties, and for creating innovative devices with unprecedented performances and unique functionalities. Long-range ferromagnetic orders of van der Waals CrI3 are strongly tied …

Dynamic observations of CRISPR-Cas target recognition and cleavage heterogeneities

Dynamic observations of CRISPR-Cas target recognition and cleavage heterogeneities

CRISPR-Cas systems (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) have shown great potential as efficient gene editing tools in disease therapeutics. Although numerous CRISPR-Cas systems have been developed, detailed mechanisms of target …

The missing link between standing- and traveling-wave resonators

The missing link between standing- and traveling-wave resonators

Optical resonators are structures that utilize wave interference and feedback to confine light in all three dimensions. Depending on the feedback mechanism, resonators can support either standing- or traveling-wave modes. Over the years, the distinction …

Photonic-plasmonic hot-electron-based photodetection with diffracted-order-resolved leaky plasmonic mechanisms

Photonic-plasmonic hot-electron-based photodetection with diffracted-order-resolved leaky plasmonic mechanisms

Although hot-carrier-based photodetection using plasmonic effects has been widely investigated, photodetectors of this type with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) > 1% and an active area of < 1 mm^2 remain out of reach even in the visible frequencies. In ...

Planar liquid crystal optics for simultaneously surface displaying and diffraction-limited focusing

Planar liquid crystal optics for simultaneously surface displaying and diffraction-limited focusing

Planar optical elements have attracted widespread attentions because of their precise light modulation. Liquid crystals (LCs) are well known for their applications in the current displaying field, and show great potential in planar optical elements with the …