Microphotonics Symposium at the MRS 2002 Meeting

Objectives

Recent significant successes in development of optical materials structured on a length scale comparable to the wavelength of light attracted increasingly growing interest in a broad range of disciplines. Building up of the resonance photonic states in these microphotonic materials results in a dramatic enhancement of light-matter interaction, which can be utilized in a number of optoelectronic devices. Of particular interest are dielectric structures with periodically modulated dielectric constant -- photonic crystals. Representing the photonic analogy to the usual electronic semiconductors, these “photonic semiconductors” offer a new way of manipulating light. Novel concepts of ultrasmall microphotonic devices, like recently demonstrated photonic crystal lasers and microcavities, as well as photonic crystal fibers, show the great potential for revolutionizing the communications technologies.
The symposium is aimed at bringing together material scientists, physicists, optical engineers to discuss current material, theoretical and technological challenges in the field.

Topics

Papers are solicited in the areas, which can include, but are not limited to:

Different material approaches for passive and active microphotonic materials: nonlinear materials, light-emitting materials, organic semiconductors, metallo-dielectric structures, etc.
Various methods for fabrication of 2D and 3D photonic crystal structures (lithography, self-assembly, holography, two-photon absorption, etc.).
Thin film 2D photonic crystal waveguides, splitters, filters, microcavities, etc.
Photonic crystal lasers and light extractors.
Integration of microphotonic devices.
Photonic crystal fibers and microstructured fibers for optical communications.
Theory and numerical simulation for microphotonic structures and devices.
Characterization of photonic crystals and devices.
Alternative approaches to microphotonics.
Novel material solutions for microphotonic devices.

Tutorial

The Microphotonics Symposium will be complemented by a tutorial session Sunday, December 1, 2002 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
	"Nanophotonics: theory and experiment"
	by John Joannopoulos (MIT) and David Norris (Un. Minnesota)
The tutorial will cover both the theory and experimental aspects of nanophotonics and photonic crystal research. Following a general overview of the theoretical foundations and the exciting technological promises of nanophotonic materials, the tutorial will then focus on theoretical and experimental studies on the properties of a number of experimental structures that have captured a lot of recent attention, including in-plane photonic crystal integrated circuits, photonic bandgap fiber structures, and self-assembly approach to photonic crystal. The purpose is to introduce the audience to the basic physics and the fascinating potentials of these nano-photonic structures, and at the same time expose them to the challenges and open questions in this fast-moving field.

Organizing Committee

	Dr. Yurii Vlasov Physical Sciences Department IBM TJ Watson Research Center Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Tel: (914) 945-2028 Fax: (914) 945-2141	Prof. Shanhui Fan Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 Tel: (650) 724-4759 Fax: (650) 725-2533
	Dr. Benjamin Eggleton OFS Fitel Laboratories, Specialty Fiber Devices 19 Schoolhouse Rd Somerset, NJ 08873 Phone: (732) 748 6701 Fax: (732) 748 7595	Prof. Thomas Krauss Department of Physics University of St.-Andrews North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, UK Tel:+44 1334 463107 Fax:+44 1334 463104

Last minute updates

The invited talk of Prof. W. L. Barnes (Exeter, UK) O8.1 has been withdrawn.
The Session O8 : PLASMONS and METAL NANOPHOTONICS will start at 9:00 am.

History of Microphotonics at the MRS Meetings

MRS Spring 2002	Symposium K	Photonic Crystals-From Materials to Devices
MRS Fall 2001	Symposium AA	Self Assembly Processes in Materials
	Symposium K	Microphotonics II - Materials, Physics and Applications
MRS Fall 2000	Symposium E	Microphotonics I - Materials, Physics and Applications
	Symposium D	Nonlithographic and Lithographic Methods for Nanofabrication-From Ultralarge-Scale Integration to Photonics to Molecular Electronics
MRS Fall 1999	Symposium G	Nonlithographic Approaches to Micro- and Nanoscale Organization

Sponsorship

Defence Advanced Research Project Agency
Microsystems Technology Office