Integrated photonic systems based on transformation optics enabled gradient index devices

摘要

Using transformation optics, researchers have built miniature gradient-index components for collimating, coupling and splitting light beams. Transformation optics is a popular theoretical approach for designing novel metamaterial-based photonic devices such as invisibility cloaks and perfect light absorbers. Qi Wu, Jeremiah Turpin and Douglas Werner from The Pennsylvania State University in the USA have now used transformation optics to design miniature gradient-index components. The small size and all-dielectric nature of these components means that they can be easily implemented by standard nanofabrication techniques such as silicon-on-insulator patterning, and are well-suited for integration with planar on-chip photonic systems. The researchers suggest that the approach could also yield nanoscale circuitry for controlling surface plasmons in applications such as optical communications, computing and sensing.