Final Report Summary - GEM (Gain-endowed metallic meta-structures and devices: towards a unification of photonics and electronics)
The project GEM aimed at developing a common framework for photonic and meta-material /electronic devices. The core idea was to implement devices that had the functionalities of photonic devices, but that could be tailored with techniques that belong to the world of electronic circuits. Typical examples are frequency tunability with an external circuit (i.e. without modifying the resonator dimensions), ultra-fast response and - importantly - extreme compactness not limited by the diffraction limit.
In this context, the project GEM demonstrated (i) THz resonators, based on antenna concepts, whose sized can be reduced independently of the operating wavelength; (ii) ultra-compact THz detectors with ultra-fast response in the GHz range; (iii) THz lasers based on this same principle. The extension of these concepts to the mid-IR has also been explored.
The project GEM also applied these concepts to systems operating in the so called strong-coupling regime between light and matter, where extreme electromagnetic field confinements are important.
The concept of hybrid electronic-photonic devices is now a common concept in THz technology, and the antenna concepts are now commonly applied and employed in this research field.
In this context, the project GEM demonstrated (i) THz resonators, based on antenna concepts, whose sized can be reduced independently of the operating wavelength; (ii) ultra-compact THz detectors with ultra-fast response in the GHz range; (iii) THz lasers based on this same principle. The extension of these concepts to the mid-IR has also been explored.
The project GEM also applied these concepts to systems operating in the so called strong-coupling regime between light and matter, where extreme electromagnetic field confinements are important.
The concept of hybrid electronic-photonic devices is now a common concept in THz technology, and the antenna concepts are now commonly applied and employed in this research field.