Naoya Tate

Information physics fundamentals of nanophotonics

Nanophotonics has been extensively studied with the aim of unveiling and exploiting light-matter interactions that occur at a scale below the diffraction limit of light, and recent progress made in experimental technologies--both in nanomaterial fabrication and characterization--is driving further advancements in the field. From the viewpoint of information, on the other hand, novel architectures, design and analysis principles, and even novel computing paradigms should be considered so that we can fully benefit from the potential of nanophotonics. This paper examines the information physics aspects of nanophotonics. More specifically, we present some fundamental and emergent information properties that stem from optical excitation transfer mediated by optical near-field interactions and the hierarchical properties inherent in optical near-fields. We theoretically and experimentally investigate aspects such as unidirectional signal transfer, energy efficiency and networking effects, among others, and we present their basic theoretical formalisms and describe demonstrations of practical applications. A stochastic analysis of light-assisted material formation is also presented, where an information-based approach provides a deeper understanding of the phenomena involved, such as self-organization. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal dynamics of optical excitation transfer and its inherent stochastic attributes are utilized for solution searching, paving the way to a novel computing paradigm that exploits coherent and dissipative processes in nanophotonics.

Design, Implementation and Characterization of a Quantum-Dot-Based Volumetric Display

In this study, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a volumetric display system based on quantum dots (QDs) embedded in a polymer substrate. Unlike conventional volumetric displays, our system does not require electrical wiring; thus, the heretofore unavoidable issue of occlusion is resolved because irradiation by external light supplies the energy to the light-emitting voxels formed by the QDs. By exploiting the intrinsic attributes of the QDs, the system offers ultrahigh definition and a wide range of colours for volumetric displays. In this paper, we discuss the design, implementation and characterization of the proposed volumetric displays first prototype. We developed an 8 × 8 × 8 display comprising two types of QDs. This display provides multicolour three-type two-dimensional patterns when viewed from different angles. The QD-based volumetric display provides a new way to represent images and could be applied in leisure and advertising industries, among others.

Optical security based on near-field processes at the nanoscale

Optics has been playing crucial roles in security applications ranging from authentication and watermarks to anti-counterfeiting. However, since the fundamental physical principle involves optical far-fields, or propagating light, diffraction of light causes severe difficulties, for example in device scaling and system integration. Moreover, conventional security technologies in use today have been facing increasingly stringent demands to safeguard against threats such as counterfeiting of holograms, requiring innovative physical principles and technologies to overcome their limitations. Nanophotonics, which utilizes interactions between light and matter at the nanometer scale via optical near-field interactions, can break through the diffraction limit of conventional propagating light. Moreover, nanophotonics has some unique physical attributes, such as localized optical energy transfer and the hierarchical nature of optical near-field interactions, which pave the way for novel security functionalities. This paper reviews the physical principles and describes some experimental demonstrations of systems based on nanophotonics with respect to security applications such as tamper resistance against non-invasive and invasive attacks, hierarchical information retrieval, hierarchical holograms, authentication, and traceability.

Nanophotonic code embedded in embossed hologram for hierarchical information retrieval

A hierarchical hologram works in both optical far-fields and near-fields, the former being associated with conventional holographic images, and the latter being associated with the optical intensity distribution based on a nanometric structure that is accessible only via optical near-fields. We propose embedding a nanophotonic code, which is retrievable via optical near-field interactions involving nanometric structures, within an embossed hologram. Due to the one-dimensional grid structure of the hologram, evident polarization dependence appears in retrieving the code. Here we describe the basic concepts, numerical simulations, and experimental results in fabrication of a prototype hierarchical hologram and describe its optical characterization.

Quadrupole-dipole transform based on optical near-field interactions in engineered nanostructures.

Nanophotonics has the potential to provide novel devices and systems with unique functions based on optical near-field interactions. Here we experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, what we call a quadrupole-dipole transform achieved by optical near-field interactions between engineered nanostructures. We describe its principles, the nanostructure design, fabrication of one- and two-layer gold nanostructures, an experimental demonstration, and optical characterization and analysis.

Nano-artifact metrics based on random collapse of resist

Artifact metrics is an information security technology that uses the intrinsic characteristics of a physical object for authentication and clone resistance. Here, we demonstrate nano-artifact metrics based on silicon nanostructures formed via an array of resist pillars that randomly collapse when exposed to electron-beam lithography. The proposed technique uses conventional and scalable lithography processes, and because of the random collapse of resist, the resultant structure has extremely fine-scale morphology with a minimum dimension below 10 nm, which is less than the resolution of current lithography capabilities. By evaluating false match, false non-match and clone-resistance rates, we clarify that the nanostructured patterns based on resist collapse satisfy the requirements for high-performance security applications.

Information theoretical analysis of hierarchical nano-optical systems in the subwavelength regime

Optical near-field interactions exhibit a hierarchical response, which is one of the most unique attributes of light-matter interactions occurring locally on the nanometer scale. It allows hierarchical nano-optical systems that break through the integration restrictions posed by the diffraction limit of conventional propagating light and offers multiple hierarchical functionalities at different physical scales in the subwavelength regime. Here we demonstrate an information theoretical approach to such nano-optical systems while assessing their electromagnetic and logical aspects via angular-spectrum analysis. Mutual information at each level of the hierarchy reveals quantitatively the relation between the physical effects associated with the hierarchy in the optical near-fields, as well as possible environmental disturbances affecting the system locally or globally, and the systems capabilities for information processing and communication.

Autonomy in excitation transfer via optical near-field interactions and its implications for information networking

a b s t r a c t We demonstrate optical excitation transfer in a mixture composed of quantum dots of two different sizes (larger and smaller) networked via optical near-field interactions. For the optical near-field interaction network based on a density matrix formalism, we introduce an optimal mixture that agrees with experimental results. Based on these findings, we theoretically examine the topology-dependent efficiency of optical excitation transfer, which clearly exhibits autonomous, energy-efficient networking behavior occurring at the nanometer scale. We discuss what we can learn from this optical excitation transfer and its implications for information and communications applications.

Nanophotonic Matching by Optical Near-Fields between Shape-Engineered Nanostructures

Engineering light-matter near-field interactions on the nanometer scale offers the possibility of devices with unique functions. Here we show that two metal nanostructures can be designed to exhibit far-field radiation only when their shapes are appropriately configured and when they are closely stacked. Such functionality is useful in ensuring product authentication or certification, where a system should work only when the two nanostructures match, just like a lock and key. We describe its operating principle by observing induced electric currents and their associated optical near-fields, and we show example nanostructures designed by numerical simulations.

Unidirectional light propagation through two-layer nanostructures based on optical near-field interactions

We theoretically demonstrate direction-dependent polarization conversion efficiency, yielding unidirectional light transmission, through a two-layer nanostructure by using the angular spectrum representation of optical near fields. The theory provides results that are consistent with electromagnetic numerical simulations. This study reveals that optical near-field interactions among nanostructured matter can provide unique optical properties, such as the unidirectionality observed here, and offers fundamental guiding principles for understanding and engineering nanostructures for realizing novel functionalities.