Laser Writing of Multiscale Chiral Polymer Metamaterials. (10th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Furlani, E. P.; Jee, H. S.; Oh, H. S.; Baev, A.; Prasad, P. N.
• Other Names: Rukhlenko Ivan D. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in optoelectronics. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-09-10
• Subjects: Optoelectronics -- Periodicals; Optoélectronique; Optoelectronics; Periodicals; 621.381045
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/861569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-563X

Abstract

Abstract : A new approach to metamaterials is presented that involves laser-based patterning of novel chiral polymer media, wherein chirality is realized at two distinct length scales, intrinsically at the molecular level and geometrically at a length scale on the order of the wavelength of the incident field. In this approach, femtosecond-pulsed laser-induced two-photon lithography (TPL) is used to pattern a photoresist-chiral polymer mixture into planar chiral shapes. Enhanced bulk chirality can be realized by tuning the wavelength-dependent chiral response at both the molecular and geometric level to ensure an overlap of their respective spectra. The approach is demonstrated via the fabrication of a metamaterial consisting of a two-dimensional array of chiral polymer-based L-structures. The fabrication process is described and modeling is performed to demonstrate the distinction between molecular and planar geometric-based chirality and the effects of the enhanced multiscale chirality on the optical response of such media. This new approach to metamaterials holds promise for the development of tunable, polymer-based optical metamaterials with low loss.