IMT Talk : Integrated electro-optic transducers

Abstract:

The mapping of high-frequency waves onto optical and near-infrared light – a process called electro-optic transduction - has opened new avenues of broad strategic importance: in metrology and sensing of high-frequency waves or in high-speed control of light. Most past technologies are limited to radio frequencies. Terahertz compatibility is anticipated to boost applications. On one hand side, terahertz signals can be utilized to control optical signals at ever faster speeds. Such devices are the back-bone of active optics with applications in consumer electronics. On the other hand side, the terahertz band is rich in spectroscopic information. Consequently, terahertz signals can carry information about gases, plastics or water content e.g. as part of the internet of things. A large variety of applications require combined merits of high-speed compatibility up to the terahertz and sensitivity down to quantum-level signals. However, achieving such performance is still an outstanding challenge. In this talk, I discuss promising integrated photonic technologies from state-of-the art electro-optic materials that provide unique possibilities to engineer these combined merits at the nanoscale. Through their design, they target both free-space and on-chip applications in metrology and high-speed control of light.

Biography:

Dr. Ileana-Cristina Benea-Chelmus is a SNF Fellow and a Hans-Eggenberger fellow at John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. Her current work focusses on hybrid silicon-organic flat optics that change their optical functionality by electro-optic transduction. In parallel, over the last years, she has been developing on-chip integrated electro-optic devices that can be utilized for terahertz field metrology. In this framework, she has been exploring their performance down to the quantum level both experimentally and theoretically. Overall, her postdoctoral and doctoral work have received several recognitions from the Hans Eggenberger foundation, as well as the European Physical Society and the Swiss Physical Society. Aside from science, she strives to contribute positively to the community she’s a part of, e.g by serving on the Metamaterials Technical Group of OSA among other activities.