Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Abstract:  Progress in nanotechnology is fundamentally dependent on tools for observation, measurement and manipulation. Optical techniques are well established at the macro-scale, but difficult to apply on the nano-scale. This is due to the mismatch between the wavelength of light, and the dimensions of nanostructures. A new photonic device, known as an optical antenna, presents an opportunity to bridge these length scales. It enables electromagnetic energy to be concentrated into a deep sub-wavelength region. In this presentation, I will discuss recent experimental work on optical antennas fabricated on the facets of laser diodes (see APL 89, 093120 (2006)). Potential applications will be discussed.

Biography:  Prof. Crozier studied Electrical Engineering and Physics at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He received his B. E. with First Class Honors and the University Medal in Engineering (L.R. East Medal) in 1995, and his B.S. in 1996. He completed both his M.S.E.E. (1999) and Ph.D. (2003) in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. Crozier carried out his doctoral dissertation under Calvin Quate and Gordon Kino. Prior to coming to Harvard, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford with Olav Solgaard. As part of his PhD, he demonstrated antennas operating at mid-infrared wavelengths. At Harvard, a collaboration between his and Prof Capasso's groups led to the development of a plasmonic laser antenna that has been featured in Newsweek magazine and MIT Technology Review.