Hyperuniform Photonic Waveguides for Arbitrary Low-Loss Bends

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional photonic crystals are highly anisotropic, limiting the flexibility of waveguide orientations and radiation confinement, leading to difficulties in controlling photon propagation and introducing losses, especially along non-high symmetry directions.

Innovation Solution

The development of hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps allows for the creation of waveguides and cavities that can confine and guide photons isotropically, enabling arbitrary waveguide orientations and reduced radiation leakage, by modifying the dielectric constant in a hyperuniform disordered structure composed of two or more materials with different dielectric constants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If photonic crystals are used to confine photons, then radiation confinement is achieved along high-symmetry directions, but the system becomes highly anisotropic, limiting waveguide orientation flexibility and introducing losses along non-high symmetry directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation confinementVSAvoidwaveguide orientation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental structural parameter from periodic crystalline arrangement to hyperuniform disordered arrangement. This parameter change transforms the anisotropic photonic band structure into an isotropic one, allowing photons to be confined equally well in all directions while eliminating the orientation constraints inherent in photonic crystals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials with specific hyperuniform disordered structures that exhibit complete photonic bandgaps. By combining materials with different dielectric constants in a hyperuniform disordered arrangement, the system achieves both strong isotropic radiation confinement and complete photonic bandgaps, resolving the contradiction between confinement reliability and orientation adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If photonic crystals are used to guide waves, then wave propagation is controlled along high-symmetry directions, but bending angles are tightly constrained and arbitrary orientations are prohibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewave propagation controlVSAvoidbending angle flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the structural parameter from periodic to hyperuniform disordered arrangement, which transforms the photonic band structure from anisotropic to isotropic. This enables waveguides to bend at arbitrary angles and orientations while maintaining full control over wave propagation, as the isotropic nature ensures uniform photonic properties in all directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If photonic crystals are used for cavity confinement, then strong confinement is achieved along high-symmetry directions, but radiation leakage occurs along other directions and cavity properties become difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecavity confinement strengthVSAvoidradiation leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the structural parameter from periodic crystalline to hyperuniform disordered arrangement, which eliminates the directional dependence of confinement strength. The complete photonic bandgaps in hyperuniform disordered materials ensure that radiation is confined equally in all directions, preventing leakage along non-high symmetry directions while maintaining strong overall confinement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials with hyperuniform disordered structures that provide complete photonic bandgaps. This composite structure ensures isotropic radiation confinement, preventing energy loss through radiation leakage while maintaining strong cavity confinement, thereby resolving the contradiction between confinement strength and energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 robust, low-loss bending of waveguides at arbitrary angles and precise control of photon confinement, overcoming the anisotropy limitations of traditional photonic crystals, while maintaining high quality factors and flexibility in device design.

Implementation Method 1

a hyperuniform disordered photonic material having a complete photonic bandgap (i.e., neither electrical or magnetic waves propagate)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotonic bandgap:

Data Source

PatentUS11852781B2Narrow-band frequency filters and splitters, photonic sensors, and cavities having pre-selected cavity modes

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIV

AI summary

Waveguides and electromagnetic cavities fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. Devices comprising electromagnetic cavities fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. Devices comprising waveguides fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. The devices include electromagnetic splitters, filters, and sensors.