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A Lithography‐Free and Field‐Programmable Photonic Metacanvas
Author(s) -
Dong Kaichen,
Hong Sukjoon,
Deng Yang,
Ma He,
Li Jiachen,
Wang Xi,
Yeo Junyeob,
Wang Letian,
Lou Shuai,
Tom Kyle B.,
Liu Kai,
You Zheng,
Wei Yang,
Grigoropoulos Costas P.,
Yao Jie,
Wu Junqiao
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201703878
Subject(s) - reconfigurability , photonics , lithography , field programmable gate array , materials science , optoelectronics , photonic crystal , polarization (electrochemistry) , optics , computer science , computer hardware , physics , telecommunications , chemistry
The unique correspondence between mathematical operators and photonic elements in wave optics enables quantitative analysis of light manipulation with individual optical devices. Phase‐transition materials are able to provide real‐time reconfigurability of these devices, which would create new optical functionalities via (re)compilation of photonic operators, as those achieved in other fields such as field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGA). Here, by exploiting the hysteretic phase transition of vanadium dioxide, an all‐solid, rewritable metacanvas on which nearly arbitrary photonic devices can be rapidly and repeatedly written and erased is presented. The writing is performed with a low‐power laser and the entire process stays below 90 °C. Using the metacanvas, dynamic manipulation of optical waves is demonstrated for light propagation, polarization, and reconstruction. The metacanvas supports physical (re)compilation of photonic operators akin to that of FPGA, opening up possibilities where photonic elements can be field programmed to deliver complex, system‐level functionalities.