Investigating THz Optoelectronic Devices

TIFFANY KO1, RICHARD GREEN2, DAVID BARATE2, JI-HUA XU2, AJI ANNAPARA2, and ALESSANDRO TREDICUCCI2
1 Princeton University, Engineering Research Center on Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and the Environment
(MIRTHE), Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. E
E-mail:
mail: tko@princeton.edu
2 Scuola Normale Superiore, National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology (NEST), 56126 Pisa, Italy

ABSTRACT
Tiffany Ko, an Electrical Engineering undergraduate student at Princeton University traveled to the host institution Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy. During her three month
visit, she investigated various THz optoelectronic materials and devices. She gained in-depth experience with new experimental equipment and techniques, greatly applicable to
future work. Her visit was also very regionally and culturally educational. Without any previous exposure to European culture, Ko gained a new international perspective. As an
Asian-American female, she added diversity to both the Italian community and predominantly male workplace. Consequently, she was also able to both share and learn from her
colleagues in several aspects.
aspects In sum,
sum the international travel was a rich educational experience that fostered strong international relationships and additional future collaborations.
collaborations

INTRODUCTION BROADER IMPACTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

• Student Traveler: Tiffany Ko pursuing Bachelor’s in
• Through the sharing of research background and previous work experience, there was
Electrical Engineering with certificates in Engineering
an increase in international awareness of the mission and objectives of MIRTHE and
Biology and Materials Science and Engineering
increased potential for further future collaborations.
• Dates of Travel: June 1st – August 27th, 2007
• Awardee institution: Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
→ Host Institution: Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa, Italy)
• Lead Host Scientist: Dr. Alessandro Tredicucci
• Research focus: THz optoelectronics and materials
• Objectives:
- Experience in new research areas with new experimental
• Experienced new Italian culture, society and customs and gained exposure to
techniques in a field similar to student’s previous
perspectives extraordinarily different from the typical American
background
- Collaboration and exchange of knowledge • Collaborated and interacted with several international students on a daily basis from
- Immersion within a different culture, society, and working countries including: Greece, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, UK, India, China
environment
i t • Increased
I d IItalian
li proficiency
fi i ffrom none to the
h point
i off basic
b i conversing
i and
d reading
di
• The strong relationships formed will cause the spread of increased international
awareness, fellowship, and professional camaraderie

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY
• Designed autonomous LabVIEW LIV characterization program
• Research in a wide range of new topics deepened understanding and increased
for THz quantum cascade (QC) lasers
technical knowledge, making for a rich educational experience.
- Built upon expertise gained during previous MIRTHE research and
shared this knowledge with several members of the host laboratory • Comprehensive knowledge gained of:
• Autonomous programming
• Investigated THz light generation using a THz QC laser as • X2 non-linear light generation
a non-linear medium and injecting near-infrared light [1] • THz measurement equipment and techniques
- Gained expertise operating an ultrafast broadband NIR laser • CdSe/CdS Nanorod absorption features and self-assembly
source, designing and executing a new experimental setup
• International exchange and work experience abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime for
- Collaborated with scientist Ji-hua Xu and post-doc Richard
[1] early career researchers; it expands horizons both in an academic and social context.
Green of the host laboratory
- Learned fundamental knowledge concerning an extremely
• For future programs, we recommend contacting members of the host laboratory prior to
relevant area of optics research with many concepts applicable visit to increase initial familiarity and productivity
to mid-IR devices studied in MIRTHE research

• Performed measurements on changes in THz absorption

of self-organizing CdSe/CdS nanorods[2] as exciton
generation increases from incident white light
- Gained experience with performing SEM imaging
- Noise to signal ratio too high to determine anything conclusive.
Equipment failure prevented further measurements.

REFERENCES
[1] S. S. Dhillon, C. Sirtori, J. Alton, S. Barbieri, A. de Rossi, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Terahertz transfera onto a telecom optical
carrier,” Nature Photonics, submitted April 2007.
[2] L. Carbone, C. Nobile, M. De Giorgi, F. Della Sala, G. Morello, P. Pompa, M Hytch, E. Snoeck, S. Kudera, R. Cingolani, R. Krahne,
and L. Manna, “Synthesis and micrometer-scale assembly of colloidal CdSe/CdS nanorods prepared by a seeded growth approach,”
Nano Letters, Vol. 7, Iss. 10: Oct 2007. (2937-3248)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Prof. Claire Gmachl for inspiration, mentorship and academic and financial support. In addition, we would
also like to thank all the members of the Mid-Infrared Photonics group at Princeton University and all the members of the NEST community
for intriguing and thoughtful discourse. Finally, the authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the NSF Grant #0540832:
IREE Supplement for the Engineering Research Center on Mid-InfraRed Technologies for Health and the Environment.