Control of Light-Matter Interaction using Dispersion Engineered Photonic Structures

Vinod M. Menon
Laboratory for Nano and Micro Photonics, Department of Physics,
The City University of New York – Queens College & Graduate Center, New York, USA
vmenon@qc.cuny.edu
www.lanmp.org

Abstract
The interaction of light with matter can be engineered by controlling the photonic density of states (PDOS). I will discuss our recent work on optical topological transition in strongly anisotropic metamaterials that can be used to engineer the PDOS [1]. The transition in the topology of the iso-frequency surface from a closed ellipsoid to an open hyperboloid manifests itself in increased rates of spontaneous emission of emitters positioned in the near-field of the metamaterial. Approaches to enhance light extraction from such structures as well as anomalous cavity scaling observed in cavities fabricated using such metamaterials will also be discussed

Time permitting I will also talk about our work on realizing enhanced nonlinear optical response from organic-inorganic and metal-organic hybrid structures [2].

[1] “Topological transitions in metamaterials,” H. Krishnamoorthy, Z. Jacob, E. Narimanov, I. Kretzschmar, and V. M. Menon, Science 336, 205 (2012).

[2] “Enhanced nonlinear response of metal nanocomposite based photonic crystals,” S. Husaini, H. Teng, and V. M. Menon, Appl. Phys. Lett. 101,111103 (2012).

Biography
Dr. Vinod Menon is an Associate Professor of Physics at the City University of New York (CUNY). He joined CUNY as part of the Photonic Initiative in 2004. Prior to joining CUNY he was a research staff member at Princeton University (2003-04). He joined Princeton as the Lucent Bell Labs Post Doctoral Fellow in Photonics in 2001. He received his MSc in Physics from the University of Hyderabad, India in 1995 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Massachusetts in 2001. His current research interests include metamaterials for controlling light-matter interaction, cavity quantum electrodynamics using wide bandgap and organic materials, and engineered nonlinear optical materials using hybrid nanocomposites. More details about his research interests and publications can be found at: www.lanmp.org