IRGs

The interdisciplinary research group on Ferroelectric Photonic Materials seeks to combine the geometric opportunities to localize light in photonic crystals via microfabrication with the inherent material complexities of ferroelectric materials to obtain unprecedented ability to manipulate light. Through use of electromagnetic simulation-based optical design, state-of-the-art photonic crystal fabrication, microscale electromechanical modeling, and ferroelectric film synthesis, this IRG explores new directions for engineering optical dispersion in ferroelectric materials, use photonic crystal structures as tools for optical studies of ferroelectric materials, and create novel approaches to and devices for electro-optical and photorefractive switching in dispersion-engineered materials. New theoretical tools for optical properties of ferroelectric materials in complex microstructures are being developed and applied to structure and device fabrication.