Reflective photonic limiter based on a phase-changing material

ORAL

Abstract

Optical limiters protect the human eye and sensitive optical devices from laser-induced damage. The existing limiters utilize nonlinear optical materials which transmit low-intensity light, while blocking the laser radiation with intensity exceeding a certain limiting threshold. The limiting threshold is determined by nonlinear absorption and, in many cases, is much higher than the practically required value. An additional problem with the existing limiters is that the laser-induced damage threshold of the nonlinear material is usually close to the limiting threshold, in which case the limiter itself can be irreversibly damaged if engaged. To address the above problems, we have developed a reflective limiter in which the phase-change material, VO2, is incorporated in a photonic structure with engineered dispersion. At low intensities, the photonic structure displays a strong resonant transmission. Above the limiting threshold, VO2 undergoes a heat-induced transition to the metallic phase to render the photonic structure highly reflective, which prevents it from overheating and destruction. Such a photonic limiter has significantly lower limiting threshold and much higher damage threshold compared to VO2 itself. The photonic limiter is going to be tested with millimeter waves.

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Authors

  • Rodion Kononchuk

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375