9 Aperiodic Order in Nanoplasmonics
371
of orbital angular momentum of light, potentially leading to novel applications in
secure communications and singular optics.
The computational and experimental results presented in this chapter demonstrate the significance of aperiodic optics as a highly interdisciplinary field of optical engineering, and its potential for innovation in basic science and technological
applications. However, our achievements on the design, fabrication and engineering
of aperiodic optical nanostructures represent only a starting point for future work
in aperiodic optics and nanoplasmonics, particularly in relation to the following:
(a) nonlinear optical regime; (b) light-emitting and lasing structures; (c) theory of
inverse design of aperiodic structures.
Despite our initial demonstration of enhanced second harmonic generation in
plasmonic DANS [68], little is known on the solution of multiple light scattering
problems in the nonlinear optical regime, especially in relation to the enhancement
of localization and scattering phenomena (e.g., aperiodic discrete breathers). The
fundamental interplay between aperiodic order and optical nonlinearity still needs to
be investigated both theoretically and experimentally in photonic–plasmonic DANS,
potentially leading to the discovery of novel physical effects.
The great flexibility of aperiodic Fourier space for the engineering of light emitting devices with tailored frequency and angular emission spectra also needs to be
systematically addressed with respect to the lasing regime, potentially leading to
novel concepts and discoveries in coherent generation from aperiodic environments.
Finally, we believe that more efficient numerical methods and specific approaches
for theoretical and computational research of aperiodic deterministic systems need to
be developed, especially in relation to the solution of inverse scattering problems in
aperiodic geometry. Advances in multi-scale computational science for large systems
with arbitrary Fourier spectral components are essential in order to properly optimize
device structures that fully leverage the opportunities of aperiodic Fourier space for
optical engineering applications.
To conclude, we believe that despite the many challenges still ahead, photonic–
plasmonic deterministic aperiodic structures have a unique potential to become the
platform of choice for the flexible manipulation of light-matter coupling on the
nanoscale, potentially resulting in significant advances to both fundamental sciences
and optical technology.
Acknowledgments We thank A. Gopinath and S. V. Boriskina for experimental and computational
contributions that led to numerous developments. We thank G. Miano for many insightful discussions
and for sharing his profound expertise on the computational modeling of electromagnetic systems.
This work was supported by by the AFOSR program “Deterministic Aperiodic Structures for Onchip Nanophotonic and Nanoplasmonic Device Applications” under Award FA9550-10-1-0019,
and partly by the NSF Career Award No. ECCS-0846651 and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center
under contract W911NF-07-D-001, and the SMART Scholarship Program. This document has been
approved for public release. NSRDEC PAO U12-414.
371
of orbital angular momentum of light, potentially leading to novel applications in
secure communications and singular optics.
The computational and experimental results presented in this chapter demonstrate the significance of aperiodic optics as a highly interdisciplinary field of optical engineering, and its potential for innovation in basic science and technological
applications. However, our achievements on the design, fabrication and engineering
of aperiodic optical nanostructures represent only a starting point for future work
in aperiodic optics and nanoplasmonics, particularly in relation to the following:
(a) nonlinear optical regime; (b) light-emitting and lasing structures; (c) theory of
inverse design of aperiodic structures.
Despite our initial demonstration of enhanced second harmonic generation in
plasmonic DANS [68], little is known on the solution of multiple light scattering
problems in the nonlinear optical regime, especially in relation to the enhancement
of localization and scattering phenomena (e.g., aperiodic discrete breathers). The
fundamental interplay between aperiodic order and optical nonlinearity still needs to
be investigated both theoretically and experimentally in photonic–plasmonic DANS,
potentially leading to the discovery of novel physical effects.
The great flexibility of aperiodic Fourier space for the engineering of light emitting devices with tailored frequency and angular emission spectra also needs to be
systematically addressed with respect to the lasing regime, potentially leading to
novel concepts and discoveries in coherent generation from aperiodic environments.
Finally, we believe that more efficient numerical methods and specific approaches
for theoretical and computational research of aperiodic deterministic systems need to
be developed, especially in relation to the solution of inverse scattering problems in
aperiodic geometry. Advances in multi-scale computational science for large systems
with arbitrary Fourier spectral components are essential in order to properly optimize
device structures that fully leverage the opportunities of aperiodic Fourier space for
optical engineering applications.
To conclude, we believe that despite the many challenges still ahead, photonic–
plasmonic deterministic aperiodic structures have a unique potential to become the
platform of choice for the flexible manipulation of light-matter coupling on the
nanoscale, potentially resulting in significant advances to both fundamental sciences
and optical technology.
Acknowledgments We thank A. Gopinath and S. V. Boriskina for experimental and computational
contributions that led to numerous developments. We thank G. Miano for many insightful discussions
and for sharing his profound expertise on the computational modeling of electromagnetic systems.
This work was supported by by the AFOSR program “Deterministic Aperiodic Structures for Onchip Nanophotonic and Nanoplasmonic Device Applications” under Award FA9550-10-1-0019,
and partly by the NSF Career Award No. ECCS-0846651 and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center
under contract W911NF-07-D-001, and the SMART Scholarship Program. This document has been
approved for public release. NSRDEC PAO U12-414.