Digital design of multimaterial photonic particles

• Main Authors: Tao, Guangming (Author), Kaufman, Joshua J. (Author), Shabahang, Soroush (Author), Rezvani Naraghi, Roxana (Author), Sukhov, Sergey V. (Author), Dogariu, Aristide (Author), Abouraddy, Ayman F. (Author), Joannopoulos, John (Contributor), Fink, Yoel (Contributor)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), 2017-10-05T18:03:53Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Scattering of light from dielectric particles whose size is on the order of an optical wavelength underlies a plethora of visual phenomena in nature and is a foundation for optical coatings and paints. Tailoring the internal nanoscale geometry of such "photonic particles" allows tuning their optical scattering characteristics beyond those afforded by their constitutive materials - however, flexible yet scalable processing approaches to produce such particles are lacking. Here, we show that a thermally induced in-fiber fluid instability permits the "digital design" of multimaterial photonic particles: the precise allocation of high refractive-index contrast materials at independently addressable radial and azimuthal coordinates within its 3D architecture. Exploiting this unique capability in all-dielectric systems, we tune the scattering cross-section of equisized particles via radial structuring and induce polarization-sensitive scattering from spherical particles with broken internal rotational symmetry. The scalability of this fabrication strategy promises a generation of optical coatings in which sophisticated functionality is realized at the level of the individual particles.
National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award CMMI-1002295)
United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contract FA-9550-12-1-0148)
United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contract FA9550-14-1-0037)
National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award DMR-1419807)