Open AccessModeling vanadium dioxide phase transition due to continuous-wave optical signals
Author(s) -
Uday K. Chettiar,
Nader Engheta
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.000445
Subject(s) - phase transition , multiphysics , optical bistability , vanadium dioxide , materials science , dielectric , optics , bistability , phase (matter) , nonlinear optics , optoelectronics , physics , condensed matter physics , thermodynamics , finite element method , laser , quantum mechanics
Vanadium dioxide (VO(2)) is a material that undergoes thermal phase transition resulting in drastic changes in its material properties. The phase change can also be brought on by optical pumping. Several experimental results have been presented in the literature dealing with such phase transitions brought on by optical pumping. In this manuscript we present a theoretical framework, which addresses this problem by self consistently solving the electromagnetic problem and the thermodynamic problem using a multiphysics approach when such transitions are thermally mediated, as is the case with continuous-wave optical pumps. Such an analysis provides us with insights into the transition process and also helps explain the conditions under which some of the observed experimental results like bistability takes place. Such optically induced phase transition materials also present the intriguing possibility of ultrahigh nonlinearity where the input optical signal essentially converts a dielectric into a plasmonic material. These materials can find significant applications in nonlinear metatronics.