Mid-infrared and Thermal Photonics I: Thermal Radiation Control and Energy
Symposium Organizers
Georgia Theano Papadakis, ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciences, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Spain
Ognjen Ilic, University of Minnesota, USA
Mathieu Francoeur, University of Utah, USA
Harnessing thermal radiation lies at the cornerstone of modern applications in renewable energy, heat management, spectroscopy, sensing, and imaging. This symposium will provide a timely platform for addressing breakthroughs and advances in the field of thermal photonics. Various theoretical and experimental efforts have recently demonstrated novel photonic concepts that allow understanding and controlling the flow of radiant heat in new ways, such as breaking reciprocity between thermal emission and absorption, and engineering the spatial, spectral, and time-dependent characteristics of thermal radiation with infrared metasurfaces. Much of this research is motivated by the objective to approach thermodynamic limits in thermal-to-electrical energy conversion, where recent progress includes thermophotovoltaic systems that operate in the near-field via evanescent illumination, and passive radiative coolers that are already penetrating the market. As thermal emission is tied to the optical properties of matter, the discussion will include recent advances in emerging materials, such as two-dimensional graphene and hexagonal boron nitride, and topological semimetals supporting ultra-confined polaritons that significantly improve the transfer of radiant heat in the near field. Naturally, these areas have open questions concerning the nature of heat transfer in the extreme near field, where the interplay between radiation and thermal conduction remains a topic of active debate that this session will explore.
Mid-infrared and Thermal Photonics II: Mid-IR photonics: from Glass to Gas
Symposium Organizers
Christian Grillet, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon INL, France
Camille Sophie-Bres, EPFL, Switzerland
Darren Hudson, Miriad technologies, USA
Raja Ahmad, OFS Laboratories, USA
The mid-IR wavelength domain is of great interest for a range of applications that affect every aspect of society, from highly sensitive biological and chemical sensors for homeland security applications and industrial and environmental monitoring to advanced astronomy applications such as planet hunting. Most chemical and biological compounds have unique fingerprints in this range that can be exploited in detection schemes with unprecedented reliability, sensitivity and precision. The surge in interest in the mid-IR has been driven by breakthroughs in novel sources and detectors in this wavelength range. However, despite its recognized potential, mid-IR technologies are still limited in their range of applications, largely due to the size of the devices and the prohibitive costs of the instruments used. We are witnessing a formidable push from various communities (Si and GIV photonics, chalcogenide, QCLs, SiGeSn, fibers, NLO…) to increase the tunability of mid-IR sources, and to miniaturise and reduce power consumption of spectroscopic platforms. This symposium brings together a broad spectrum of experts on topics including soft-glass fiber physics, integrated chip and fiber-based Mid-IR supercontinuum, dual comb spectroscopy, and stand-off chemical detection.