Date and Time Monday, Mar. 10, 2014, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location SF B560
Host Krishna Kishor

Lossy optical materials for absorption based hybrid plasmonic switching

Arash Joushaghani (Aitchison's Group)

Photonics Group

 

Abstract:

Optical absorption is usually undesirable in photonic integrated systems as it results in attenuation of signal power. However, from a design perspective, optical materials with large absorption can be a powerful tool in designing optical system. They not only allow us to properly do impedance matching between different photonic components, but also enable efficient detectors and absorption based switches. In this tutorial, we will discuss the required step in using novel and lossy optical materials to demonstrate optical switching, ranging from basic material characterization and optical mode analysis to thermal and electrical designs. Emphasis is placed using Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) in a hybrid plasmonic system to achieve optical switching.

Biography:

Arash Joushaghani obtained his BASc in engineering science – Nano option in 2008 and MASc in electrical engineering in 2010 both from the University of Toronto. He is currently pursuing his PhD in the electrical engineering and is expected to graduate this year. His MASc work focused on novel optical phenomena in waveguide arrays and ultrafast plasmonic switching. His PhD is on miniaturization of integrated optical devices using Vanadium Dioxide as the active material.