Nanophotonics

2023

In Russia, created a nanoscale fiber for computers of the future

In Russia, created a nanoscale fiber for computers of the future. This project was told at the beginning of July 2023 at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Read more here.

Russian scientists have studied the optical properties of a material that could become the basis for developments in the field of nanophotonics

Physicists MIPT from studied the optical properties of boron nitride (an indispensable component for two-dimensional materials) and found that it had an optimal refractive index in ultraviolet light. This means that the material can become the basis for developments in the field of nanophotonics, in particular, replace electronic components in integrated circuits. computers To demonstrate the practical use of boron nitride scientists , a nanometer waveguide was constructed that showed optimal efficiency. The work is published in the journal Materials Horizons. This was announced on June 5, 2023 by representatives of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

As reported, photonic devices transmit information using photons and can soon replace electronic ones, since light moves much faster than electrons, and when the signal propagates, there is no loss and heating due to the resistance of the conductor material. However, the minimum size of the photon elements is limited by the wavelength of the transmitted light. To create nanometer devices, it is necessary to use materials that transmit ultraviolet waves, the length of which is less than 300 nanometers. Moreover, the material must have an optimal refractive index to further compress the wave, and be accessible: inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Physicists from MIPT are looking for compounds that satisfy all these conditions.

Georgy Ermolaev

The refractive index is very important in photonics. The higher it is in the material, the higher the efficiency of the devices made from it, the easier it is to control the light. Thanks to this, a whole area of ​ ​ research is actively developing - highly refractive materials. told Georgy Ermolaev, researcher at the Center for Photonics and 2D Materials at MIPT

In the latest work, Fiztech scientists investigated the optical properties of hexagonal boron nitride hBN and found that it had an optimal refractive index in the ultraviolet region. Physicists also developed optical elements based on boron nitride: a nanometer waveguide and a chiral mirror.

Despite the use of the material in two-dimensional nanophotonics and optoelectronics, its optical properties have been studied over a fairly narrow wavelength range. This is partly due to the small size of boron nitride samples, making experimental measurements difficult. Physicists from MIPT were able to determine the refractive index and anisotropy of matter over a wide range from 250 to 1700 nanometers using ellipsometry and scanning optical microscopy. The maximum value of the refractive index in ultraviolet light over a length of 250 nanometers was 2.75, which makes it possible to create photon elements of the order of tens of nanometers. Such miniature devices can be used in photonic integrated circuits of computers instead of electronic components.

To show the practical possibilities of boron nitride, physicists designed a 40-nanometer waveguide - a channel that carries light. Computer simulations showed that light in the waveguide propagates practically without optical loss, without fading. Also, scientists have created a model of a chiral mirror from boron nitride - a device that reflects polarized light twisted in one direction and transmits light twisted in the other. The mirror will help distinguish biomolecules that have the same composition and structure, but are asymmetrical. For example, such a device is needed in pharmacology, since the described chiral molecules can have various properties.

Low optical loss, optimal anisotropy index and refraction in ultraviolet light make boron nitride a promising material for creating nanophoton devices.

Ultraviolet nanophotonics is in its infancy in 2023: you need to reduce the wavelength of light in order to reduce the size of photon devices. We have shown that boron nitride is a suitable platform for this, since, in addition to the optimal refractive index, it also has optical anisotropy, which also increases its effectiveness. And low optical losses allow transmission information over long distances with little or no attenuation. We have finally found a bridge that would allow the transition electronic engineers from photonics, that is, to take advantage of the photon over the electron. For June 2023, we are working to show these capabilities in a real photon integrated circuit. commented Georgy Ermolaev

See also

• Nanotubes
• Nanosprings
• Nanolattices
• Nanocrystals
• Nanoparticles in medicine
• Nanofibers in medicine
• Nano-films of boron nitride