Cel
I propose a revolutionary photonic technology based on self-assembled soft matter that is likely to evolve into currently unforeseen, futuristic technologies. The liquid nature and responsiveness of soft matter delivers the spontaneous self-assembly of tuneable liquid micro-lasers, liquid micro-fibres, liquid light switches, and tuneable optical micro-resonators with extremely smooth interfaces, low optical losses, elastic deformability and self-healing, all of which are difficult to obtain with hard matter. These photonic micro-devices operate exclusively on light and can be easily integrated into 3D photonic chips by micro-injection into a polymer scaffold or elastic binding via topological defect loops and points.
LOGOS will create integrated and self-organized photonic chips with the focus on four specific challenges: (i) an all optically switchable spherical 3D Bragg-onion optical transistor made of chiral liquid crystals (LCs), (ii) logic micro-gates made of LCs that operate entirely on light, (iii) optically switchable Whispering-Gallery-Mode LC micro-resonators that redirect light, and (iv) soft-matter photonic integrated circuits in 3D assembled using topology. The validity of the approach will be demonstrated by AND and NAND logic gates, and an add-drop Whispering-Gallery-Mode filter, which will be assembled from soft matter and will use only light to perform the logic operation and optical signal gating and redirecting beyond the GHz range.
This very high-risk, high-gain proposal challenges the mainstream photonic roadmaps by offering a disruptive technology that reduces production times, waste and energy, and enables light processing by light, all currently difficult to obtain in the solid state. LOGOS’s results will not only have a major impact on future data centres and optical networks, but could also revolutionize implantable, biocompatible and wearable photonics.
Dziedzina nauki
- natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physics
- natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicstopology
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksoptical networks
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringliquid crystals
Słowa kluczowe
Program(-y)
Temat(-y)
System finansowania
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantInstytucja przyjmująca
1000 Ljubljana
Słowenia