Technical description: We will develop mathematical models and computational tools to analyze optical resonance phenomena in nanostructured materials. The proposed research will focus on resonant interaction of optical fields with metallic nanoparticles and on negative refractive index phenomena in optical materials with double resonance (electric and magnetic field). We will study nonlinear coupling of material and light excitations and their applications. Traditional resonant optics which is limited to exploiting resonance of electric fields with atomic systems revolutionized science and technology by introducing lasers. Current development in nanomaterial fabrication makes it possible to add an additional resonant interaction, that of a magnetic field with the embedded nanostructure. This brings exotic properties such as negative refractive index into the optical domain. It is important to study the properties of such materials using consistently derived equations that describe the doubly resonant interaction. This is considerably more challenging than simply including negative values for permittivity and permeability. We will develop a description of the optical double resonance phenomena starting from first principles and analyze its physical consequences including negative refractive index. We will also analyze the classical phenomena of nonlinear optics in doubly resonant materials. Our pilot research with ultra-short pulses has already shown that for very simple nanomaterials, optical control using phase, including trapping of light is feasible.
Broader impact: This project will make important contributions to basic science. It can lead to applications in materials science and to high performance computing. One of the principle targets of the work is negative refractive index material. These materials could be of great practical value. Optimization of the design of such materials will be a central result of our research and requires a fundamental understanding of the nature of the interaction of light and such nano-structures. One of the more important applications for negative refractive index materials is superlenses. Such a lens permits much improved focusing of light compared to current capabilities. This would allow production of electronic components using photolithography with much higher densities and finer features leading to greatly increased computation power and lower cost. In addition, other types of nano-optical materials can lead to novel optical logic devices and short term memory buffers. Designer optical materials are very close to realization; their full potential will only be realized if the fundamental physical and mathematical models are understood.
