Solid State Beam Steering for Miniature LIDAR/LADAR
We are building a solid-state, all-electronic beam steering technology. The system has no moving parts. Instead, it uses a high performance electro-optic (EO) device to steer a laser beam in two-dimensions. The EO generated steering angle is amplified by a passive optical system. The resulting device will lead to miniature, very high-speed, high-reliability, beam steering systems for applications that include laser communication and laser-assisted guidance on small vehicles.

Surface Plasmon Electro Optic Devices
We are designing and fabricating arrays of subwavelength Surface Plasmon (SP) structures in metal films and combining these structures with EO polymers to understand the interaction of the EO polymer with the enhanced electric fields of the plasmons. We have designed and modeled resonance structures to maximize extraordinary transmittance. We are making a systematic study of SP structure shapes by studying circular holes, elliptical holes and slits. Initially we have fabricated and begun optical evaluation of subwavelength slits in gold films. Slits with 32 nm width and 120nm width have been fabricated by a focused ion beam system. Preliminary optical transmittance measurements in the visible and NIR are underway and will be compared to theoretical modeling.

Dynamically Tunable Metamaterials
We are combining nonlinear optical materials with plasmonic structures to create new devices that can be used in photonic circuits, optical computing and solar energy collection. For more information, publications and whitepapers,
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410 Jan Davis Drive   •  Huntsville, Alabama 35806  •  256-922-0802 or toll free 888-234-4784