arXiv subjects

Costas P. Grigoropoulos

Publications and source records attributed to Costas P. Grigoropoulos.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Moire-enabled optical vortex with tunable topological charge in twisted bilayer photonic crystals

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light is a versatile degree of freedom with transformative impact across optical communication, imaging, and micromanipulation. These applications have motivated a growing demand for compact, reconfigurable vortex arrays with tunable topological charge, yet integrating these functionalities into nanophotonic platforms remains elusive. Among possible strategies to meet this challenge is exploiting the twist degree of freedom in layered structures, which enables both emerging moire physics and unprecedented reconfigurability of photonic and electronic properties. Here, we harness these capabilities in twisted bilayer moire photonic crystals (TBMPCs) to realize vortex array generation with tunable OAM, demonstrated both analytically and experimentally. Central to this advancement is a new class of quasi-bound state in the continuum: Bessel-type modes emerging from moire-induced interlayer coupling, which generate vortex beams with tailored spiral phase distributions. We experimentally demonstrate vortex beams spanning eight OAM orders, from -3 to 4, and achieve selective excitation of distinct topological charges at a fixed telecommunication wavelength by tuning the interlayer separation and twist angle. Furthermore, localized Bessel-type modes at AA stacking regions can be excited nonlocally across the moire superlattice, enabling vortex array generation. Our work offers new insights into moire physics and introduces an innovative approach for future multiplexing technology integrating OAM, wavelength, and spatial division.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

High emissivity, thermally robust emitters for high power density thermophotovoltaics

Thermal radiative energy transport is essential for high-temperature energy harvesting technologies, including thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) and grid-scale thermal energy storage. However, the inherently low emissivity of conventional high-temperature materials constrains radiative energy transfer, thereby limiting both system performance and technoeconomic viability. Here, we demonstrate ultrafast femtosecond laser-material interactions to transform diverse materials into near-blackbody surfaces with broadband spectral emissivity above 0.96. This enhancement arises from hierarchically engineered light-trapping microstructures enriched with nanoscale features, effectively decoupling surface optical properties from bulk thermomechanical properties. These laser blackened surfaces (LaBS) exhibit exceptional thermal stability, retaining high emissivity for over 100 hours at temperatures exceeding 1000°C, even in oxidizing environments. When applied as TPV thermal emitters, Ta LaBS double electrical power output from 2.19 to 4.10 W cm-2 at 2200°C while sustaining TPV conversion efficiencies above 30%. This versatile, largely material-independent technique offers a scalable and economically viable pathway to enhance emissivity for advanced thermal energy applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Sensing Within Functionalized Additively Manufactured Microporous Structures

Quantum sensing with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond has emerged as a powerful tool for measuring diverse physical parameters, yet the versatility of these measurement approaches is often limited by the achievable layout and dimensionality of bulk-crystal platforms. Here, we demonstrate a versatile approach to creating designer quantum sensors by surface-functionalizing multiphoton lithography microstructures with NV-containing nanodiamonds. We showcase this capability by fabricating a 150 $μ$m x 150 $μ$m x 150 $μ$m triply periodic minimal surface gyroid structure with millions of attached nanodiamonds. We demonstrate a means to volumetrically image these structures using a refractive index matching confocal imaging technique, and extract ODMR spectra from 1.86 $μ$m x 1.86 $μ$m areas of highly concentrated nanodiamonds across a cross section of the gyroid. Furthermore, the high density of sensing elements enables ensemble temperature measurements with sensitivity of 0.548 °K/$\sqrt{Hz}$ at 5 mW excitation power. This approach to creating quantum-enabled microarchitectures opens new possibilities for multimodal sensing in complex three-dimensional environments.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Inverse design of photonic surfaces on Inconel via multi-fidelity machine learning ensemble framework and high throughput femtosecond laser processing

We demonstrate a multi-fidelity (MF) machine learning ensemble framework for the inverse design of photonic surfaces, trained on a dataset of 11,759 samples that we fabricate using high throughput femtosecond laser processing. The MF ensemble combines an initial low fidelity model for generating design solutions, with a high fidelity model that refines these solutions through local optimization. The combined MF ensemble can generate multiple disparate sets of laser-processing parameters that can each produce the same target input spectral emissivity with high accuracy (root mean squared errors < 2%). SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis shows transparent model interpretability of the complex relationship between laser parameters and spectral emissivity. Finally, the MF ensemble is experimentally validated by fabricating and evaluating photonic surface designs that it generates for improved efficiency energy harvesting devices. Our approach provides a powerful tool for advancing the inverse design of photonic surfaces in energy harvesting applications.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2023

Light-driven C-H bond activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides

C-H bond activation enables the facile synthesis of new chemicals. While C-H activation in short-chain alkanes has been widely investigated, it remains largely unexplored for long-chain organic molecules. Here, we report light-driven C-H activation in complex organic materials mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and the resultant solid-state synthesis of luminescent carbon dots in a spatially-resolved fashion. We unravel the efficient H adsorption and a lowered energy barrier of C-C coupling mediated by 2D TMDCs to promote C-H activation. Our results shed light on 2D materials for C-H activation in organic compounds for applications in organic chemistry, environmental remediation, and photonic materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Ultrafast optical nanoscopy of carrier dynamics in silicon nanowires

Carrier distribution and dynamics in semiconductor materials often govern their physical properties that are critical to functionalities and performance in industrial applications. The continued miniaturization of electronic and photonic devices calls for tools to probe carrier behavior in semiconductors simultaneously at the picosecond time and nanometer length scales. Here, we report pump-probe optical nanoscopy in the visible-near-infrared spectral region to characterize the carrier dynamics in silicon nanostructures. By coupling experiments with the point-dipole model, we resolve the size-dependent photoexcited carrier lifetime in individual silicon nanowires. We further demonstrate local carrier decay time mapping in silicon nanostructures with a sub-50 nm spatial resolution. Our study enables the nanoimaging of ultrafast carrier kinetics, which will find promising applications in the future design of a broad range of electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

A microscale nanosecond time-resolved platinum thermometer probing Gaussian pulsed laser induced temperature

Pulsed laser processing is playing a crucial role in additive manufacturing and nanomaterial processing. However, probing transient temperature during laser interaction with the processed materials is challenging with both high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we demonstrate 9ns rise time 50μm sized Pt thin film sensor for probing the temperature field induced by a nanosecond pulsed laser on a semiconductor thin film. The error sources and associated improvements are discussed regarding the fabrication, sensor pattern and electrical circuits. We further carried out the first experimental and theoretical analysis of spatial resolution and accuracy for measuring gaussian pulse on the serpentine structure. Transparent silica and sapphire substrates, as well as 7-45nm insulation layer thickness, are compared for sensing accuracy and temporal resolution. Lastly, the measured absolute temperature magnitude is validated through the laser-induced melting of the 40nm thick amorphous silicon film. Preliminary study shows its potential application for probing heat conduction among ultrathin films.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Laser machined ultrathin microscale platinum thermometers on transparent oxide substrates

Ultrathin microscale resistive thermometers are of key value to many applications. Here we have fabricated a laser machined 50 $μ$m wide and 50 nm thick serpentine Pt thin film sensor capable of sensing temperatures up to 650 ${^\circ}$ C over multiple heating and cooling cycles. Various materials and associated processing conditions were studied, including both sapphire and silica as transparent substrates, alumina and TiO2 as adhesion layers, and lastly alumina and silicon oxide as capping layer. In-situ resistance monitoring helps to verify the multi-cycle stability of the sensor and guide the optimization. 10 $μ$m sized sensors can be laser machined but will not survive multiple heating and cooling cycles. We demonstrate that the sensors with amorphous Ge thin layers can also repeatably measure temperatures up to 650 ${^\circ}$ C. It is anticipated that this sensor can be used for fast and high spatial resolution temperature probing for laser processing applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Phase-change silicon as an ultrafast active photonic platform

Phase change material (PCM) features distinct optical or electronic properties between amorphous and crystalline states. Recently, it starts to play a key role in the emerging photonic applications like optoelectronic display, dynamic wavefront control, on-chip photonic memory and computation. However, current PCMs do not refract effectively at visible wavelengths and suffer from deformation and decomposition, limiting the repeatability and vast visible wavelength applications. Silicon as the fundamental material for electronics and photonics, has never been considered as phase change material, due to its ultrafast crystallization kinetics. Here we show the striking fact that nanoscale silicon domains can be reversibly crystallized and amorphized under nanosecond laser pulses. For a typical disk resonator, it also provides a 25% non-volatile modulation at nanosecond time scale. We further show proof-of-concept experiments that such attributes could enable ultra-high resolution dielectric color display and dynamic visible wavefront control.

physics.optics↗