The objective of our research program is to develop novel electro-optic sensing and infrared components by exploring light-matter interactions of photonic and plasmonic structures in the mid-infrared (MIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR). Of particular interest is the development of angle-insensitive MIR filters, selective perfect absorbers, and switchable/tunable devices using modeling and simulations as well as experimental investigation. Spectrally selective transmission or absorption is enabled via critical photonic coupling into gap plasmon, epsilon-near-zero, or other resonant cavity modes. The particular materials to be integrated include, but are not limited to, those with known phase-change or actively tunable optical properties such as germanium antimony telluride, vanadium oxide, and indium tin oxide. Such tunable materials and resonant cavity structures remain relatively unexplored in the mid- to long-wave infrared, these regimes are of specific interest to the Air Force for identification of heat signatures and specific emissions as part of countermeasure systems. The revolutionary science being undertaken will provide the ground breaking tools and nanophotonic structures that lead to light-weight integrated agile IR countermeasures, threat warning, tracking & identification systems.

1. Chandriker Dass, Hoyeong Kwon, Shivashankar Vangala, Evan M. Smith, Justin Cleary, Junpeng Guo, Andrea Alu, and Joshua R. Hendrickson “Plasmonically Enhanced Second Harmonic Generation in Epsilon-Near-Zero Nanolayers,”, ACS Photonics 7, 174 (2020).

2. Ivan Avrutsky, Evan Smith, Shivashankar Vangala, Ricky Gibson, Joshua Hendrickson, Justin Cleary “Angle- and polarization-independent mid-infrared narrowband optical filters using dense arrays of resonant cavities,”, Optics Express 27(26), 37481 (2019).

3. Joshua R. Hendrickson, Shivashankar Vangala, Chandriker Dass, Ricky Gibson, John Goldsmith, Kevin Leedy, Dennis Walker, Justin W. Cleary, Wonkyu Kim, and Junpeng Guo, “Coupling of epsilon near mode in ITO nanolayer to gap plasmon mode for flattop wideband perfect light absorption” ACS Photonics, 5(3),776 (2018).

key words

nanophotonics, nanoplasmonics, epsilon-near-zero materials; metasurfaces, infrared, sensing, detection, phase change materials, Optical analysis;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants