Dynamic plasma photonic crystals: multidimensional electromagnetically active artificial structures in the mm-wave and thz regimes

Microplasma is a versatile electromagnetic material that can be formed in sub-mm cavities with high electron densities (10^14-10^17 cm^-3). The permittivity of microplasma is readily modulated through the electron and neutral gas number densities, making microplasma inherently applicable to photonic crystal (PC) applications. Photonic crystals are structures possessing periodic modulation in the refractive indices, enabling them to manipulate the flow of light, and form photonic bandgaps. As such, photonic crystals are useful in numerous applications that require the precise control of photons including, but not limited to, waveguides, microcavity lasers, sensors, communication systems, and quantum photonics. This thesis focuses on the development of hybrid microplasma structures as tunable coupled resonators and photonic crystals. An inverse molding method was developed to form three-dimensional (3D) complex microcapillary networks within a polymer scaffold. Generation of plasma within these microcapillaries formed dynamic 3D plasma photonic crystals with electronic speed tunability. Metallic gratings were interwoven with microplasma columns to form dual resonators that modified the spectral manipulation through their coupling strength. The metallic gratings were then reduced to isolated metallic scatterers, forming 3D metallo-dielectric photonic crystals possessing wide bandgaps and enhanced resonances that were tunable by microplasma. The crystal designs demonstrated in this thesis enabled controlled manipulation of the electromagnetic spectrum through adjusting the refractive index modulation as well as the crystal structure. Furthermore, the complex microcapillary network offers a versatile platform to couple different materials of different topologies. The results obtained in this thesis suggest the suitability of plasma-based photonic structures for mm-wave and THz applications and fundamental studies of multi-coupled resonators.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Wenyuan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Eden, J. Gary

• Light Matter Interaction
• Microplasma
• Photonic Crystals
• Dynamic Artificial Materials
• Coupled Resonators
• Millimeter Wave

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Wenyuan Chen

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108598

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/108598