BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — A team of Chinese researchers has used a new theory to invent a new type of ultra-thin photonic crystal with high energy efficiency, laying the foundation for next-generation laser technology.
Professor Wang Eng of the School of Physics at Peking University recently told Xinhua that the twisted boron nitride (TBN) made by the team, with a micron-level thickness, is the thinnest optical crystal currently known in the world. Compared with traditional crystals with the same thickness, the energy efficiency is raised by 100 to 10,000 times.
Wang, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said this achievement is an original innovation by China in the theory of photonic crystals, and has created a new field for making photonic crystals with thin two-dimensional materials of light elements.
The research results were recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Lasers are one of the fundamental technologies of the information society. Photonic crystals can realize the functions of frequency conversion, parametric amplification, and signal modulation, to name a few, which are the main parts of laser devices.
In the past 60 years, research and development in the field of photonic crystals has been mainly guided by two phase matching theories proposed by scientists in the United States.
However, due to limitations of traditional theoretical models and material systems, existing crystals have struggled to meet future requirements for laser device development, such as miniaturization, high integration, and actuation. The development of new-generation laser technology requires breakthroughs in photonic crystal theory and materials.
Wang Eng and Professor Liu Kaihui, Director of the Institute of Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, School of Physics at Peking University, led the team to develop twisted phase matching theory, a light-based third phase matching theory. Element material system
“The laser generated by photonic crystals can be viewed as a moving column of individuals. The twisting mechanism can make everyone's direction and speed highly coordinated, greatly improving the energy conversion efficiency of the laser,” explained Liu, who is also deputy director of the center. Interdisciplinary Institute of Light Element Quantum Materials at Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center.
He said that the research opened up a completely new design paradigm and material system, and achieved original innovation of the entire chain from fundamental optics theory to materials science and technology.
“The thickness of a TBN crystal ranges from 1 to 10 microns. The thickness of the photonic crystals we knew before is mostly at the millimeter or even centimeter level,” Liu added.
TBN production technology is now applying for patents in the United States, Britain, Japan and other countries. The team has made a prototype of the TBN laser and is developing new generation laser technology with companies.
“The photonic crystal is the cornerstone of the development of laser technology, and the future of laser technology is determined by the design theory and production technology of photonic crystals,” Wang said.
With its ultra-thin size, excellent integration capabilities and new functions, the TBN crystal is expected to bring new application breakthroughs in quantum light sources, photonic chips, artificial intelligence and other fields in the future, according to Wang.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
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