Chalcogenide Photonic Technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Chalcogenides are materials based on metallic alloys of sulphur, selenium and/or tellurium. Although only formed into glasses for the first time in the 1950's, they emerged first in a new generation of CD's and DVD's where their ability to be formed into glass and crystalline structures allow information to be stored. This optical storage is based on changes of optical properties when a laser heats the chalcogenide material and converts it from crystalline to glass structure. This phase change effect is also being actively investigated for electronic memories ultimately aiming to replace present memory stick technology. Chalcogenides here offer vastly higher read and write rates, smaller memory cell size and improved stability over time.
In the proposed work, we are aiming to develop further optoelectronic applications of chalcogenides by exploiting and enhancing our expertise in depositing thin films of chalcogenide and subsequently forming light guides in these films. The confinement of light in the guides will enhance the guided light power and could lead to devices based on phase change as above. However the chalcogenides have much faster and stronger responses to light, which can be engineered to be extremely effective through the waveguide structure allowing us to develop ultra-high speed optical switch elements, devices for converting between light wavelengths (changing the 'colour') and quantum light sources emitting photons in 'spookily connected' entangled pairs . By doping our waveguides with transition metals we expect to make lasers at a significant number of new wavelengths, particularly in the infrared region. Chalcogenide glass has higher transmission at much longer wavelengths than conventional glasses extending the laser applications to eyesafe rangefinders for aerospace, chemical sensing and specialist medical sensors.
In the proposed work, we are aiming to develop further optoelectronic applications of chalcogenides by exploiting and enhancing our expertise in depositing thin films of chalcogenide and subsequently forming light guides in these films. The confinement of light in the guides will enhance the guided light power and could lead to devices based on phase change as above. However the chalcogenides have much faster and stronger responses to light, which can be engineered to be extremely effective through the waveguide structure allowing us to develop ultra-high speed optical switch elements, devices for converting between light wavelengths (changing the 'colour') and quantum light sources emitting photons in 'spookily connected' entangled pairs . By doping our waveguides with transition metals we expect to make lasers at a significant number of new wavelengths, particularly in the infrared region. Chalcogenide glass has higher transmission at much longer wavelengths than conventional glasses extending the laser applications to eyesafe rangefinders for aerospace, chemical sensing and specialist medical sensors.
Planned Impact
Chalcogenides are one of the most active next generation material technogies now being developed. They revolutionized optical data storage through their use as a phase change memory material and are set to revolutionize electronic memory. Their dispersive nonlinearities, essential for high speed optical switching are higher than silicon and their recent realization in 2D layers, in forms such as molybdenum sulphide, suggest they provide a strong rival to graphene for electronic applications. This project represents a formal start to an existing collaboration between Bristol and Southampton and a commitment to expand the functionality of chalcogenides in photonics in order to provide impact at even more levels.
The proposal addresses an area of significant national importance and addresses several EPSRC priorities in Advanced Materials, Photonics for Future Systems, Towards an Intelligent Information Infrastructure, Quantum Technology hubs and physics grand challenges: Quantum Physics for new Quantum Technologies and Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials.
Our proposal will make a significant contribution to the training of two mid-career post-doctoral researchers, Dr Chung-Che Huang (ORC) and Dr Ying-Lung Ho (Bristol), who initiated our collaboration, made their significant contribution to writing the proposal, manage workpackages and co-supervise students. They will be mentored by Professors Hewak and Rarity. Other post-doctoral students and PhD students working in related areas will also benefit. We will support neighbouring Eastleigh College in training apprentice technicians.
Our proposal compliments that of several research groups in the UK and our results will feed into and the strengthen the UK foundation in this area. Quantum relevant results will be fed to quantum technology hubs on reaching sufficient technical maturity.
We will disseminate our results in high-impact journals and will present this interdisciplinary work at a wide range of conferences such as (E-)MRS (materials), CLEO and LEOS (optoelectronics), Semicon West and EPCOS (electronics), SPIE Photonics West (opto-semiconductors) and ICANS (amorphous semiconductors).
Results of the research will be exploited through the Research and Innovation Services (R&IS) group (ORC) and the Research & Enterprise Development Office (Bristol). We aim for the first technological outputs of this programme to demonstrate commercial potential by the end of the project and would look for routes to bring successful work to market. To this end we will focus on strengthening our links with future exploiters including our previous licensees: Ilika Technologies Ltd, Southampton Photonics (now SPI Lasers), and Bristol start ups QUMET Technologies (Bristol) and Venture Photonics. We will also pursue entrepreneurial and start-up activity with Set Squared, and the Bristol based Engine Shed 'hot house'.
The proposal addresses an area of significant national importance and addresses several EPSRC priorities in Advanced Materials, Photonics for Future Systems, Towards an Intelligent Information Infrastructure, Quantum Technology hubs and physics grand challenges: Quantum Physics for new Quantum Technologies and Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials.
Our proposal will make a significant contribution to the training of two mid-career post-doctoral researchers, Dr Chung-Che Huang (ORC) and Dr Ying-Lung Ho (Bristol), who initiated our collaboration, made their significant contribution to writing the proposal, manage workpackages and co-supervise students. They will be mentored by Professors Hewak and Rarity. Other post-doctoral students and PhD students working in related areas will also benefit. We will support neighbouring Eastleigh College in training apprentice technicians.
Our proposal compliments that of several research groups in the UK and our results will feed into and the strengthen the UK foundation in this area. Quantum relevant results will be fed to quantum technology hubs on reaching sufficient technical maturity.
We will disseminate our results in high-impact journals and will present this interdisciplinary work at a wide range of conferences such as (E-)MRS (materials), CLEO and LEOS (optoelectronics), Semicon West and EPCOS (electronics), SPIE Photonics West (opto-semiconductors) and ICANS (amorphous semiconductors).
Results of the research will be exploited through the Research and Innovation Services (R&IS) group (ORC) and the Research & Enterprise Development Office (Bristol). We aim for the first technological outputs of this programme to demonstrate commercial potential by the end of the project and would look for routes to bring successful work to market. To this end we will focus on strengthening our links with future exploiters including our previous licensees: Ilika Technologies Ltd, Southampton Photonics (now SPI Lasers), and Bristol start ups QUMET Technologies (Bristol) and Venture Photonics. We will also pursue entrepreneurial and start-up activity with Set Squared, and the Bristol based Engine Shed 'hot house'.
Publications
Chen L
(2015)
Evidence of near-infrared partial photonic bandgap in polymeric rod-connected diamond structures.
in Optics express
De Galarreta C
(2018)
Nonvolatile Reconfigurable Phase-Change Metadevices for Beam Steering in the Near Infrared
in Advanced Functional Materials
Hu Y
(2016)
Toward Direct Laser Writing of Actively Tuneable 3D Photonic Crystals
in Advanced Optical Materials
Knauer S
(2017)
Structured polymer waveguides on distributed Bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter
in Journal of Optics
Knauer S
(2017)
Polymer photonic microstructures for quantum applications and sensing.
in Optical and quantum electronics
Description | Light interference in photonic crystals are the source of colour in many natural phenomenal including magpie wings, butterflies, cuttlefish and simple oil on water colours. In this grant we aimed to manufacture 3D crystals in the near infrared spectral region for controlling transmission and reflection of light wavelengths technologically relevant to optical communications. We designed 3D and fabricated, using direct laser writing, polymer photonic crystals that can be back filled by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of chalcogenide materials. Experimentally we started back-filling by atomic layer deposition and we see significant effects on the bandgap of the polymer crystals. By developing a novel low temperature CVD deposition process we were then able to directly backfill structures with high refractive index Tin sulfide (a chalcogenide) and achieved significant photonic light blocking and reflection effects, imaging the photonic bandstructure in a novel spectroscopic 'fourier' microscope. In a side project we discovered a new way to stabilise Blue phase liquid crystals, crystals that reflect light in the visible. The method uses microstructures fabricated in our direct lser writing instrument (Nanoscribe Gmbh). This is a spin off from our original project goals but has led to a RS-MOST travel grant to exchange team members regularly with Taiwan. This work has resulted directly more that 10 publications and innumerable conference publications. |
Exploitation Route | We expect our work in Blue phase crystals to have application in displays industry and we intend to write a follow on grant application. 2020: a follow on EPSRC grant achieved high marks from reviewers but missed the funding threshold at panel. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Energy |
Description | Developed and submitted an EPSRC proposal to develop two dimensional thin film sources of single photons, with polarisation modulation as part of UK-Brazil FAPESP programme. |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | European Research Council |
Amount | £2,250,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 247462 QUOWSS |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 02/2010 |
End | 02/2015 |
Description | Future Photonics Hub, Innovation Partnership Fund, Southampton University |
Amount | £10,000,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | QC:SCALE - Quantum Circuits: Systematically Controlling And Linking Emitters for integrated solid state photonics platforms |
Amount | £857,536 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W006685/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 12/2025 |
Description | RS-MOST travel grant |
Organisation | National Cheng Kung University |
Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are characterising the light scattered by Blue phase liquid crystals and investigating the improved stability of crystals in microstructures fabricated in our two photon lithography sysem |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing Blue phase liguid crystal samples and collaborative advice |
Impact | We have discovered a new way to stabilise Blue phase liquid crystal and are writing a paper on this. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | SOUTHAMPTON CHALCOGENIDE GROUP |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a collaborative grant spanning two institutes. We are optical characterisation and device applications |
Collaborator Contribution | They are materials development, growth and fabrication |
Impact | This grant is an outcome of an informal collaboration dating back to 2007 |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | BQIT (Bristol Quantum Information Technologies) Workshop 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The BQIT (Bristol Quantum Information Technologies) Workshop presents a programme of speakers and panellists bringing together recent and current events and research from the emerging field of Quantum Technology. Since the workshop's conception in 2014 they have had 143 speakers and panellists who have presented their work and opinions on a range of topics from Quantum Sensing and Metrology to Quantum Communications and Networks, Quantum Algorithms to Quantum Hardware and Quantum Computation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/physics/research/quantum/conferences/bqit-workshop/ |
Description | BQIT (Bristol Quantum Information Technologies) Workshop 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | This is the annual quantum information workshop organised by Bristol, chared again this year by Prof John Rarity |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.flickr.com/photos/cqpbristol/sets/72157694318687751 |
Description | BQIT (Bristol Quantum Information Technologies) Workshop 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International workshop on quantum information technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/physics/research/quantum/conferences/bqit-workshop/ |
Description | BQIT2019 1-3April 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 150 attendees to BQIT 2019. Promoted research in Bristol and created new relationships with external parties |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/physics/research/quantum/conferences/bqit-workshop/ |
Description | Cheltenham Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | About the Science Festival How long is a piece of string? What makes the world turn? And why does chocolate taste so good? From the state of the planet, to the latest stem cell research, to the secrets of the perfect cup of tea - nothing is off limits at Cheltenham Science Festival. We'll be joined by some of the world's greatest scientists, big thinkers and comedy geniuses to help us answer some pretty big questions. With past speakers including Brian Cox, Robert Winston, Alice Roberts and Richard Dawkins, the festival is the perfect place to pose your most burning questions and expand your mind. Join us for six jam-packed-days of debate, discovery, experiments, enjoyment and hands on fun and take a fresh look at the world around you. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science |
Description | International Conference on Optics of Excitons in Confined Systems, University of Bath |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The International conference on Optics of Excitons in Confined Systems (OECS 2017) took place at the University of Bath on 10-15 September 2017. The event brings together internationally leading scientists and many young researchers collaborating in a broad range of scientific topics related to optics of excitons in confined systems. The main goal of this conference was to discuss in-depth new important results, ideas and future directions in the existing as well as in the emerging areas of research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited talk at INL Workshop, Braga |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at INL Workshop, Braga, Portugal, 3rd-5th October 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited to Taiwan, National Cheng Kung University, Lecture on Pohotonic Quantum Technologies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited to Taiwan, National Cheng Kung University, Lecture on Pohotonic Quantum Technologies: Metrology, spins and photons, 12/01/2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | META 2020, WARSAW - POLAND, JULY 20 - 23, 2020: Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Composites with High Refractive Index Thin Films, M.P.C. Taverne, X. Zheng, Y-S J. Chen, K.A. Morgan, L.Chen, G. Alzaidy, CC Huang , Y-L Daniel Ho, D.W. Hewak , and J.G. Rarity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk: META 2020, WARSAW - POLAND, JULY 20 - 23, 2020 Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Composites with High Refractive Index Thin Films |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | NIST Single Photon Workshop - Boulder Colorado |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | on July 31 - August 4, 2017, NIST hosted the Single Photon Workshop 2017, at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado (USA). SPW2017 was the eighth installment in a series of international workshops on single-photon generation and detection technology and applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2017/07/single-photon-workshop-2017 |
Description | Nano Meta 2017 Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | NANOMETA 2017 aimed to bring together the international Nanotechnology, Photonics and Materials research communities where most recent and challenging results and plans were discussed in the informal setting on a glorious mountaineering resort. The technical programme included invited and selected contributed papers in the areas of: • Plasmonics, Metamaterials and Metadevices • Quantum and Topological Nanophotonics • New Materials for Nanophotonics • Optical Super-resolution The conference was organised in two oral parallel sessions (Nanophotonics and Metamaterials) and will feature joint plenary, tutorial and post-deadline sessions. The conference timetable was arranged in a way that permits mid-day breaks for recreational activities and informal contact between participants. Nanometa 2017 presented plenary and breakthrough talks. The conference also featured a number of invited talks devoted to recent important advances in nanophotonics and metamaterials science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.nanometa.org/ |
Description | QCrypt 2017, University of Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Quantum cryptography aims to achieve security from fundamental physical principles, such as the quantum mechanical phenomena of entanglement and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the theoretical understanding of quantum cryptography, and its technological feasibility has been demonstrated experimentally. Quantum cryptography is therefore regarded as one of the most promising candidates for a future quantum technology. The annual conference on quantum cryptography (QCrypt) is a conference for students and researchers working on all aspects of quantum cryptography. The main goals of the conference are to represent the previous year's best results and to support the building of a research community in quantum cryptography. For more information on goals and structure, see QCrypt charter. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://2017.qcrypt.net/ |
Description | QUAMP 2017, Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | QuAMP WAS a biennial international conference on Quantum, Atomic, Molecular and Plasma Physics. QuAMP 2017 was held in Glasgow at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel, from 4-7 September 2017. The meeting covered quantum information and technology, quantum optics, ultra-cold matter, the interaction of light with molecules and plasmas. The format comprised of plenary talks by invited speakers as well as some contributed talks and posters. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://quamp2017.iopconfs.org/Home |
Description | Southampton Quantum Tech Lecture 8th November |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lecture at Southampton University |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Summer school on Interaction between Radiation and Quantum matter, MSPU Moscow, 2-5 JUly 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Summer school on interaction of radiation with quantum matter. Presented summary of the Bristol quantum efforts in communication, sensing and computation and then focussed of spin photon interfaces. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | UIMP International Summer School and Workshop by Spanish Network of Quantum Technologies, Madrid |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at UIMP International Summer School and Workshop by Spanish Network of Quantum Technologies in Madrid |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |