Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Abstract:  The development of advanced optical structures has enabled tremendous control over the propagation and manipulation of light waves. At the forefront of these advances is the development of nanoscale plasmonic devices with dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light (~0.1 um). The unique properties of such structures can be exploited to gain an even higher degree of control over light-matter interactions and opens the door to the development of a myriad of new device architectures for generating, routing, modulating, and detecting light. Moreover, their small size directly results in higher operating speeds and facilitates an improved synergy with electronic components. The field of plasmonics is rapidly growing and provides a whole range of exciting research and development opportunities. In this presentation we will provide a critical assessment of the field and indicate the truly exciting opportunities for use of plasmonics on a Si chip.

Biography:  Mark Brongersma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University. He leads a research team of ten graduate students and two postdocs. Their research is directed towards the development and physical analysis of new materials and structures that find use in nanoscale electronic and photonic devices. His most recent work has focused on Si nanocrystals and wires, optical micro-resonators, and metallic nanostructures that mold the flow of light at the nanoscale. Dr. Brongersma received his PhD in Materials Science from the FOM Institute in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1998. From 1998-2001 he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the California Institute of Technology.