tunAble Liquid-crystal LOng-range surface PLASMon polariton components

Project Information

ALLOPLASM

Grant agreement ID: 273528

Project closed

Start date 1 September 2011

End date 31 August 2013

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 180 084,00

EU contribution € 180 084,00

Coordinated by

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Italy

Objective

"ALLOPLASM aims at the theoretical analysis and the experimental fabrication and characterization of liquid-crystal tunable long-range surface plasmon polariton elements. Conventional metal stripe plasmonic waveguides shall be enhanced with an electrically-switchable liquid-crystal superstrate layer. Through appropriate design, the electrical tuning of the LC-molecule tilting shall control the level of structural asymmetry and, therefore, the propagation properties, such as propagation constant and losses.

The proposed structures shall be first theoretically analyzed and optimized by means of numerical tools, e.g. finite-element method, capable of addressing the anisotropic nature of the waveguiding structures. The derived structures shall be fabricated and optically characterized. Three types of end-components are targeted: a) a variable optical attenuator, b) a Mach-Zender interferometric modulator, and c) a directional coupler switch. Finally, the fabricated prototypes shall be packaged and pig-tailed, leading to compact electrically-tunable end-components.

The fellowship aims to promote the career development of the fellow, who already possesses a strong theoretical background in optics, nanophotonics and nanomaterials, as well as in numerical tools needed to study the properties of optical waveguiding structures, which comprise both isotropic and anisotropic materials, such as liquid crystals. During this project he will receive complementary training in clean room fabrication processes, clean room processes specific to fabrication of liquid crystal guided optics devices, morphological investigation techniques, back-end processing and optical characterization of free space and guided optics devices. Training-by-research will provide him expertise in the entire chain of integrated optics devices."

Fields of science

Not validated

• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics
• engineering and technology › nanotechnology › nano-materials
• engineering and technology › nanotechnology › nanophotonics
• engineering and technology › materials engineering › liquid crystals

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE

• EU contribution: € 180 084,00
• Address: PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 ; 00185 Roma ; Italy
• Region: Centro (IT) › Lazio › Roma
• Activity type: Research Organisations
• Administrative Contact: Romeo Beccherelli (Dr.)
• Total cost: No data