Subwavelength Engineering of Silicon Photonic Waveguides

The dissertation demonstrates subwavelength engineering of silicon photonic waveguides in the form of two different structures or avenues: (i) a novel ultra-low mode area v-groove waveguide to enhance light-matter interaction; and (ii) a nanoscale sidewall crystalline grating performed as physical unclonable function to achieve hardware and information security. With the advancement of modern technology and modern supply chain throughout the globe, silicon photonics is set to lead the global semiconductor foundries, thanks to its abundance in nature and a mature and well-established industry. Since, the silicon waveguide is the heart of silicon photonics, it can be considered as the core building block of modern integrated photonic systems. Subwavelength structuring of silicon waveguides shows immense promise in a variety of field of study, such as, tailoring electromagnetic near fields, enhancing light-matter interactions, engineering anisotropy and effective medium effects, modal and dispersion engineering, nanoscale sensitivity etc. In this work, we are going to exploit the boundary conditions of modern silicon photonics through subwavelength engineering by means of novel ultra-low mode area v-groove waveguide to answer long-lasting challenges, such as, fabrication of such sophisticated structure while ensuring efficient coupling of light between dissimilar modes. Moreover, physical unclonable function derived from our nanoscale sidewall crystalline gratings should give us a fast and reliable optical security solution with improved information density. This research should enable new avenues of subwavelength engineered silicon photonic waveguide and answer to many unsolved questions of silicon photonics foundries

Optical security and authentication using nanoscale and thin-film structures

Authentication of encoded information is a popular current trend in optical security. Recent research has proposed the production of secure unclonable ID tags and devices with the use of nanoscale encoding and thin-film deposition fabrication techniques, which are nearly impossible to counterfeit but can be verified using optics and photonics instruments. Present procedures in optical encryption provide secure access to the information, and these techniques are improving daily. Nevertheless, a rightful recipient with access to the decryption key may not be able to validate the authenticity of the message. In other words, there is no simple way to check whether the information has been counterfeited. Metallic nanoparticles may be used in the fabrication process because they provide distinctive polarimetric signatures that can be used for validation. The data is encoded in the optical domain, which can be verified using physical properties with speckle analysis or ellipsometry. Signals obtained from fake and genuine samples are complex and can be difficult to distinguish. For this reason, machine-learning classification algorithms are required in order to determine the authenticity of the encoded data and verify the security of unclonable nanoparticle encoded or thin-film-based ID tags. In this paper, we review recent research on optical validation of messages, ID tags, and codes using nanostructures, thin films, and 3D optical codes. We analyze several case scenarios where optically encoded devices have to be authenticated. Validation requires the combined use of a variety of multi-disciplinary approaches in optical and statistical techniques, and for this reason, the first five sections of this paper are organized as a tutorial

Diffractive nano-structures as optical visual and machine readable features

With the help of nano-fabrication and nano-optical structures a method for data storage is presented. The information in this method is encoded and represented in a multi-state system where colors or wavelengths are used as variables. The high resolving power of nano-scale diffraction grating has enabled the detection of distinguishable colors (or wavelengths) and that in turn is used to improve the storage capability of the presented system as well as achieving a natural physical compression. The data in this method are represented physically. This method offers a good data density and creates a secure system for authentication. It has both color change effect, which can be used for the first level of authentication and machine readability. In addition, by using nano-diffractive features, type of diffraction grating is designed which is capable of holding the same color for a large viewing angle. By using materials with a high refractive index a system is introduced in which images can be recorded and perceived in a 3D like manner similar to what is found in holograms recorded on film

A comprehensive survey on hybrid communication in context of molecular communication and terahertz communication for body-centric nanonetworks

With the huge advancement of nanotechnology over the past years, the devices are shrinking into micro-scale, even nano-scale. Additionally, the Internet of nano-things (IoNTs) are generally regarded as the ultimate formation of the current sensor networks and the development of nanonetworks would be of great help to its fulfilment, which would be ubiquitous with numerous applications in all domains of life. However, the communication between the devices in such nanonetworks is still an open problem. Body-centric nanonetworks are believed to play an essential role in the practical application of IoNTs. BCNNs are also considered as domain specific like wireless sensor networks and always deployed on purpose to support a particular application. In these networks, electromagnetic and molecular communications are widely considered as two main promising paradigms and both follow their own development process. In this survey, the recent developments of these two paradigms are first illustrated in the aspects of applications, network structures, modulation techniques, coding techniques and security to then investigate the potential of hybrid communication paradigms. Meanwhile, the enabling technologies have been presented to apprehend the state-of-art with the discussion on the possibility of the hybrid technologies. Additionally, the inter-connectivity of electromagnetic and molecular body-centric nanonetworks is discussed. Afterwards, the related security issues of the proposed networks are discussed. Finally, the challenges and open research directions are presented

2012 PWST Workshop Summary

No abstract availabl

Internet of Things Strategic Research Roadmap

Internet of Things (IoT) is an integrated part of Future Internet including existing and evolving Internet and network developments and could be conceptually defined as a dynamic global network infrastructure with self configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable communication protocols where physical and virtual “things” have identities, physical attributes, and virtual personalities, use intelligent interfaces, and are seamlessly integrated into the information network

Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2011

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems and Engineering Management, Operational Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Physics