Abstract
Emergent technologies that make use of novel materials and quantum properties of light states are at the forefront in the race for the physical implementation, encoding and transmission of information. Photonic crystals (PCs) enter this paradigm with optical materials that allow the control of light propagation and can be used for optical communication, and photonics and electronics integration, making use of materials ranging from semiconductors, to metals, metamaterials, and topological insulators, to mention but a few. Here, we show how designer superconductor materials integrated into PCs fabrication allow for an extraordinary reduction of electromagnetic waves damping, making possible their optimal propagation and tuning through the structure, below critical superconductor temperature. We experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, a successful integration of ferroelectric and superconductor materials into a one-dimensional (1D) PC composed of ({text {B}}{text {T}}{text {O}}/{text {Y}}{text {B}}{text {C}} {text {O}})_{{text {N}}}/{text {S}}{text {T}}{text {O}} bilayers that work in the whole visible spectrum, and below (and above) critical superconductor temperature T_C=80, {hbox {K}}. Theoretical calculations support, for different number of bilayers N, the effectiveness of the produced 1D PCs and may pave the way for novel optoelectronics integration and information processing in the visible spectrum, while preserving their electric and optical properties.
Highlights
Emergent technologies that make use of novel materials and quantum properties of light states are at the forefront in the race for the physical implementation, encoding and transmission of information
A and b correspond to the thicknesses of BaTiO3 and YBa2Cu3O7, θi denotes the angle with the z-axis defined in the range of 0◦ ∼ ±90◦, xz is the plane of incidence, and the direction of E × B is given by the incident wave vector k, where E and B represent the electric and magnetic fields, respectively
No considerable displacement of peaks was observed compared to the YBCO and BTO films grown under identical parameters, as shown by the dashed vertical lines in the X-ray θ − 2θ scans of Fig. 1b
Summary
Emergent technologies that make use of novel materials and quantum properties of light states are at the forefront in the race for the physical implementation, encoding and transmission of information. Even though there exist many sort of materials used for tunable PCs16–19, substantial advances would be expected if superconductor properties (YBCO) could be merged with those of ferroelectric ones (BTO), on a photonic structure As it is well known, superconductors are materials characterised for low losses and better operating characteristics than normal metals. Several technical reasons back the merging of high temperature superconductor (YBCO) and ferroelectric (BTO) thin films: First, both materials have perovskite structure, good lattice matching, and chemical similarity, which facilitates a successful epitaxial growth of high-quality ferroelectric/superconductor thin films[48,49] Both materials bear thermal expansion and contraction, besides severe mechanical stress, owing to variations between ambient and cryogenic temperature[48]. Our findings may pave a way for novel PC materials development that can be merged into photonic integrated circuits, optical filters and reflectors, or in devices for the transmission of information in the visible range at cryogenic temperatures, while preserving their electric and optical properties
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