Hollow-Core Nanowire Structure for Base-Mode Vector Beam Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
When using nanowire lasers to generate vector beams, the selection of modes within the nanowire becomes an issue, as a Gaussian beam typically exists in the base mode instead of a vector beam, leading to inefficient extraction of the vector beam.
Innovation Solution
A nanowire with a hollow core structure is designed, where the central axis of the nanowire and the hollow core substantially coincide, allowing for the generation of a vector beam with high efficiency by ensuring that the Gaussian beam does not exist in the base mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional nanowire with solid core is used, then the nanowire structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the base mode produces a Gaussian beam instead of a vector beam, resulting in low extraction efficiency of vector beam
Solution Approach 1:
The nanowire is segmented into a hollow core structure with distinct regions: a central hollow part and an outer semiconductor shell. This segmentation transforms the base mode from Gaussian to vector beam by creating a refractive index contrast between the hollow core and the semiconductor shell, enabling high extraction efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The nanowire employs a composite structure combining hollow space (air/vacuum) with semiconductor material (e.g., GaN). This composite design creates the necessary optical mode transformation where the hollow core suppresses Gaussian mode while the semiconductor shell supports vector beam modes, achieving both structural simplicity and high vector beam extraction efficiency
2Productivity
If bulk optical elements are combined to generate vector beam, then the vector beam can be generated, but the device size becomes large and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vector beam generation function directly from the light source (nanowire) itself, eliminating the need for separate bulk optical elements like holograms, crystals, or wavelength plates. The hollow-core nanowire structure inherently produces vector beam in its base mode, achieving miniaturization while maintaining vector beam generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the light generation function and vector beam formation function into a single integrated nanowire structure. The hollow-core nanowire simultaneously acts as the light source and the vector beam generator, combining multiple functions into one compact device that reduces both size and power consumption
3Volume of moving object
If meta-surfaces are used for vector beam generation, then the device size is reduced compared to bulk elements, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex meta-surface patterns on the nanowire surface to generate vector beam, the invention inverts the approach by using a hollow core structure that naturally produces vector beam mode through its refractive index profile. This inversion simplifies the structure while achieving the same miniaturization effect, avoiding the need for complicated surface patterning
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the efficient extraction of a vector beam from the nanowire, as the vector beam can exist in the base mode, facilitating its generation and utilization in applications such as nano-material capture and laser processing.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow part in a central axis direction of the columnar semiconductor, in which a central axis of the columnar semiconductor and a central axis of the hollow part substantially coincide with each other to generate a vector beam
Data Source
AI summary
A nanowire of the present invention is a columnar semiconductor, and includes a hollow part in a central axis direction of the columnar semiconductor, in which a central axis of the columnar semiconductor and a central axis of the hollow part substantially coincide with each other to generate a vector beam. In the nanowire, a nanowire diameter may be two times or more and four times or less of an upper limit value of the nanowire diameter in which light exists in a single mode. Further, a horizontal cross section of the columnar semiconductor may be circular or polygonal.