Mirbek Turduev

Efficient mode converter design using asymmetric graded index photonic structures

Asymmetric graded-index (GRIN) inhomogeneous medium is proposed to enable even-to-odd mode conversion. An exponential refractive index profile is implemented to induce an asymmetric refractive index distribution. A two-dimensional photonic crystal structure composed of constant dielectric radii with rectangular unit cells is deployed. Efficient mode transformation in a compact structure may promote the manipulation of light for the creation of other types of higher-order modes in asymmetric GRIN structures.

High-efficiency beam bending using graded photonic crystals.

We explore beam-bending properties of graded index (GRIN) waveguide with hyperbolic secant profile. The transmission efficiency and bandwidth features are extracted for GRIN photonic crystal (PC) media composed of dielectric rods. Light guiding performance of the GRIN PC medium is analyzed for 90° and 180° waveguide bends. The finite-difference time-domain method is deployed to investigate the performance of the designed GRIN waveguides. By the help of proposed photonic configuration, bending of light is achieved with a high efficiency within a broad bandwidth, which promotes the use of GRIN PC structures for efficient light-bending purposes.

Crescent shaped dielectric periodic structure for light manipulation

We present optical properties of crescent-shaped dielectric nano-rods that comprise a square lattice periodic structure named as crescent-shaped photonic crystals (CPC). The circular symmetry of individual cells of periodic dielectric structures is broken by replacing each unit cell with a reduced symmetry crescent shaped structure. The created configuration is assumed to be formed by the intersection of circular dielectric and air rods. The degree of freedom to manipulate the light propagation arises due to the rotational sensitivity of the CPC. The interesting dispersion property of designed CPC occurs due to the anisotropic nature of the iso-frequency contours that yield tilted self-collimated wave guiding. Furthermore, this feature allows focusing, routing, splitting and deflecting light beams along certain routes which are independent of the lattice symmetry directions of regular PCs. The propagation direction of light can be tuned by means of the opening angle of the crescent shape. Finally, the property of being all-dielectric structure ensures the absence of optical absorption losses that are reminiscent of employed metallic nano-particles.

Modified Maxwell fish-eye approach for efficient coupler design by graded photonic crystals.

We present a novel design of two dimensional graded index medium that provides coupling of light with high coupling efficiency between two planar dielectric waveguides of different widths (15.46 μm vs. 2.21 μm). Poor light coupling performance of butt-coupler can be mitigated by implementing tapered coupler at the expense of long coupler section. In order to reduce coupling losses, a new coupling device approach based on graded index (GRIN) concept is proposed. The refractive index distribution is in the form of modified version of the Maxwell fish-eye lens. The inhomogeneous refractive index distribution is approximated by photonic crystals (PCs) such that the positions of each PC rods are appropriately arranged. Strong electric field focusing ability of the designed GRIN PC medium provides relatively high coupling efficiency that is around 90%. Spectral region corresponding to coupling efficiency over 75% has a bandwidth of Δω = 18.56% (284 nm). Finally, we discuss the durability of the proposed coupler against the lateral displacement and angular misalignment of output waveguides.

Modified annular photonic crystals with enhanced dispersion relations: polarization insensitive self-collimation and nanophotonic wire waveguide designs

A novel (to our best knowledge) type of photonic crystal (PC) structure called modified annular PC (MAPC) that is composed of dielectric rods with off-centered air holes is thoroughly studied. The plane wave expansion method is applied for spectral analysis. A complete photonic bandgap region with a considerable value of gap width Δω/ω=7.06% is achieved by optimizing the structural parameters of the proposed periodic medium. By introducing geometrical asymmetry to the primitive cell of PC, we engineer the dispersion properties of the proposed photonic structure such that conventional equifrequency contours for the second band can be transformed into tilted rectangular shapes. This feature enables us to demonstrate the polarization insensitive tilted self-collimation effect. A hybrid structure composed of dielectric nanowire and MAPCs is offered to obtain a high degree of polarization independent guiding of light. The two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method is carried out to verify the light guiding efficiencies. Polarization insensitive optical functionalities achieved by MAPC structure can be deployed in integrated optical circuits.

Cooperative chemical concentration map building using Decentralized Asynchronous Particle Swarm Optimization based search by mobile robots

In this article the main objective is to perform a search in an unknown area with multiple robots in order to determine the region with highest chemical gas concentration as well as to build the chemical gas concentration map. The searching and map building tasks are accomplished by using mobile robots equipped with smart transducers for gas sensing. Robots perform the search autonomously by using their own data and the information (position information and sensor readings) obtained from the other robots. Moreover, simultaneously the robots send their sensor readings of the chemical concentration and their position data to a remote computer (a base station), where the data is combined, interpolated, and filtered to form an real-time map of the chemical gas concentration in the environment. To achieve this task as a high-level path planning algorithm we use a decentralized and asynchronous version of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm which also allows for time-varying neighborhood.

Mode transformation using graded photonic crystals with axial asymmetry

We propose a mode conversion method that enables transformation of the propagating mode from fundamental to higher-order modes by utilizing asymmetric graded index (A-GRIN) structures. Refractive index variations of two different asymmetric gradient profiles, i.e., exponential and Luneburg lens profiles, have been approximated by two-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs). The basic structure is composed of constant radii with different lattice sizes. The designed GRIN mode converters provide relatively high transmission efficiency in the spectral region of interest and achieve the transformation in compact configuration. Numerical approaches utilizing the finite-difference time-domain and plane wave expansion methods are used to analyze the mode conversion phenomenon of proposed GRIN PC media. Analytical formulation based on ray theory is outlined to explore both ray trajectories and the physical concept of a wavefront retardation mechanism.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of asymmetric light transport in graded index photonic crystal waveguides

To provide asymmetric propagation of light, we propose a graded index photonic crystal (GRIN PC) based waveguide configuration that is formed by introducing line and point defects as well as intentional perturbations inside the structure. The designed system utilizes isotropic materials and is purely reciprocal, linear, and time-independent, since neither magneto-optical materials are used nor time-reversal symmetry is broken. The numerical results show that the proposed scheme based on the spatial-inversion symmetry breaking has different forward (with a peak value of 49.8%) and backward transmissions (4.11% at most) as well as relatively small round-trip transmission (at most 7.11%) in a large operational bandwidth of 52.6 nm. The signal contrast ratio of the designed configuration is above 0.80 in the telecom wavelengths of 1523.5–1576.1 nm. An experimental measurement is also conducted in the microwave regime: A strong asymmetric propagation characteristic is observed within the frequency interval of 12.8 GHz–13.3 GHz. The numerical and experimental results confirm the asymmetric transmission behavior of the proposed GRIN PC waveguide.

Design of a Wavelength Selective Medium by Graded Index Photonic Crystals

In this paper, a novel technique for spatial wavelength division using graded index photonic crystals (GRIN PCs) is proposed. The designed GRIN PC structure with hyperbolic-secant refractive index profile at a fixed frequency generates spatial shifts in the longitudinal direction with respect to different incident wavelengths so that distinct path trajectories are followed by propagating beams through the graded medium. Due to gradual variation of the refractive index profile (incremental decrease), an incident beam with an appropriately selected wavelength undergoes continuing refraction and finally, total internal reflection (TIR) occurs at the turning point. Due to the wavelength-dependency characteristic of GRIN PCs, TIR takes place at different positions for different wavelengths and thus, light wave emanates from the GRIN medium at different locations with different exit angles. It is revealed that the designed structure can work in three distinct frequency regimes and is able to separate a certain number of incident beams with different wavelengths, viz. from three to seven different wavelengths. This condition enables the deployment of the GRIN PC configuration for the design of wavelength selective media.

High Extinction Ratio Polarization Beam Splitter Design by Low-Symmetric Photonic Crystals

A novel concept of polarization beam splitting with high polarization extinction ratio is proposed based on the polarization sensitive self-collimation feature of symmetry reduced photonic crystals. The idea utilizes self-collimation mechanism and rotated isofrequency contours arising due to the deliberately implemented symmetry reduction in the photonic structure. Square lattice of low-symmetric rectangular air holes in dielectric background are numerically analyzed in both frequency and time domains. The operating bandwidth of the device is Δ λ = 53 nm. At λ = 1.55 μm, polarization extinction ratios are ∼23 and ∼18 dB for transverse electric and transverse magnetic ports, respectively. The investigated device is 46.4 μm × 12.4 μm in size and based on a uniform, planar, and homogenous structure. Therefore, there is no need for an additional splitting assistance to separate the two orthogonal polarizations. Possible fabrication imperfections are also analyzed and it is observed that polarization extinction ratios stay above 17 dB when error percentage is around 5.5%. With having these advantages, symmetry reduced photonic crystal-based polarization beam splitters can be a good candidate for optical communication applications.