Expérimental et théorique
Electrically reconfigurable surfaces are artificial components whose optical properties (reflection, absorption) can be addressed electrically. They are particularly useful as amplitude or phase modulators. In the mid-infrared (MIR, 3um<lambda<30um), these functionalities are useful for applications such as laser phase stabilization, spectroscopy, EO frequency comb generation. The ultrafast (10–40GHz) modulation of MIR radiation is a missing device functionality. The Host Team is at the forefront of research with a far-reaching approach: the development of electrically reconfigurable surfaces for the MIR. The Host Team recently demonstrated ultra-fast MIR modulators with performances that are compatible with real world applications. The specificity (and the beauty) of the concept is that it relies on a fundamental physics phenomenon: the strong-coupling regime between light and matter. The goal of this internship is: (i) employing the currently existing modulators to generate EO frequency combs, a crucial step for applications. (ii) participate in the full characterization, and result interpretation, of a new generation of modulators with improved functionalities. The experiments will be performed with the existing setup, built around a tunable quantum cascade laser. The perspective intern will also have the possibility to add improvements to the setup (for instance the measurement of the modulation phase).