Committee: 

Dr. Cai, Advisor   

Dr. Adibi, Chair

Dr. Vogel

Abstract:

The objective of the proposed research is to actively control light-matter interactions in nanophotonic device and material platforms by utilizing ultrafast dynamics of hot carriers, envisioned for all-optical communications and high-speed data processing purposes. First, I explore and characterize disparate optical materials such as metals and dielectrics that serve as active media in the mainstream of the modern nanophotonic technology. By exploring the optical techniques that facilitate the formation of hot carries in active materials, I propose new approaches that enable ultrafast all-optical control of intensity, phase, polarization, and frequency of light in prototypical device (e.g., plasmonic) and material (e.g., transition-metal dichalcogenides) systems. Possible challenges will be discussed, and potential solutions will be proposed by introducing new techniques or advancing the existing state-of-the-art methods.