Topics

The IEEE RAPID conference's topics cover vast technical areas within the photonics community and the interests of our members. Attendees will be able to participate in plenaries, invited talks, tutorial sessions, and social events per the conference's 12+ tracks.

Track ANP: Advanced Nanophotonics Platforms

Description: This track will cover some of the most exciting emerging sciences in photonics. Topics include: ultrafast and nonlinear nanophotonics, AI for photonics, emerging plasmonics and nanophotonics.

Ultrafast and Nonlinear Nanophotonics
Description: Optical and electronic properties of materials are strongly modified at reduced dimensions. The scope of this session will be to attract contributions that leverage these new properties to study novel nonlinear and ultrafast effects at the nanoscale.

Artificial Intelligence for Photonics
Description: Emerging photonic concepts such as optical metamaterials, metasurfaces, novel lasers, single-photon sources and other quantum photonic devices together with novel optical material platforms promise to bring revolutionary advances to information processing and storage, communication systems, energy conversion, imaging, sensing and quantum information technology. In pursuit of the next generation of photonic and quantum technologies, AI approaches have emerged as a powerful tool to discover unconventional photonic designs and uncover new optical phenomena. This session will showcase both machine-learning-assisted photonic designs as well as machine-learning enabled device integration, testing and measurements.

Emerging Material Platforms for Plasmonics
Description: An urgent challenge currently faced by researchers in plasmonics is the ability to identify the next generation of low-loss, tailorable, dynamically switchable, cost-effective, robust and semiconductor-compatible materials for implementation of advanced nanophotonic designs and realization of practical plasmonic devices for applications in on-chip circuitry, imaging, sensing, energy conversion and quantum information technologies.

Active Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
Description: This session seeks original contributions in the general area of active optical devices and architectures enabled by advanced plasmonic and/or nanophotonic concepts. Examples include, but are not limited to, electron-plasmon interactions, novel ways to generate/detect or amplify light, and to modulate/tune the optical properties of nano-scale photonic devices using an external transduction.

Track AOP: Applications of Photonics

Description: This track will cover some salient applications of photonics and realted technologies to the defense and commercial arena. The Topics include: applications of photonics to sensing, blat/shock wave imaging and spectroscopic techniques, and displays holography and projection.

Devices and Systems for Sensors
Description: This track will focus on multidisciplinary research that investigates optical systems in order to understand and apply the principles that enable such high performing systems. Topics covered will include optical technologies/architectures, sensors, signal and information processing. Areas of interest include GRIN and free-form optics, novel transducers, integrated sensing and processing, natural polarization and spectral signatures, materials and structures, multi-aperture architectures, size weight and power (SWAP) issues, performance metrics / figures of merit for unconventional approaches, etc.

Blast/Shock Wave Imaging and Spectroscopic Techniques
Description: This topic will cover imaging and spectroscopic techniques relevant to blast/shock waves, explosive events, and/or defense system characterization. Techniques include but are not limited to refractive imaging and laser-based methods. Techniques that are innovative, provide new physical insights, and/or address emerging defense systems are strongly encouraged. Survey and review presentations on the current state of the art are also desired.

Displays, Holography and Projection-I & II
Description: Displays, holography and projection: Infrared (IR) optoelectronic emitters hold the potential for a wide array of applications such as infrared scene projection (IRSP) for hardware-in-the-loop testing. The requirements for such emitters include high operational efficiency, emission within designated wavebands, and high power output. Emitter arrays for IRSP systems must be able to emulate real-world phenomena by emitting scenes of high radiometric, spatial, and temporal fidelity. Such systems have fundamental limitations related to response time and maximum simulated apparent temperature, making them unsuitable for emulation of very hot (>700K) and rapidly evolving scenes. Papers that address phenomenology, design, theoretical modeling/simulation, and experimental demonstrations materials, devices and systems for displays, holography and scene projection are invited. Examples include, but is not limited to, new display and projection screen technologies including 3D and holographic displays, alternative material structures and emitters, surface coatings for enhanced extraction efficiencies, as well as device algorithms and driving electronics.

Track ETP: Enabling Technologies in Photonics

Description: This track will address enabling technologies for photonics. Topics include: microwave optics and RF photonics, optical MEMS and NEMS, algorithms for photonics applications and data, and bioinspired and bioprincipic optical science.

Microwave Optics and RF Photonics
Description: This session will present the latest research in the emerging areas of: (1) optical microwave- and millimeter-wave links, (2) electro-optic circuits at the board and chip levels, (3) ultrafast optical-microwave and millimeter-wave system topologies, (4) ultrahigh bandwidth devices for optical systems, (5) photonic integration for microwave processing (integrated microwave photonics) and (6) antenna and array designs in the microwave, millimeter, THz and optical bands.

Optical MEMS/NEMS
Description: This session covers the area of optical micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) ranging from new device concepts to applications. These solutions can enable various optical beam control and passive sensing concepts as well as facilitate both on-chip and heterogeneously integrated photonic devices and components. Topics of submission include but are not limited to: optical scanners and micromirrors, optical MEMS sensors and photoactuators, optomechanical oscillators, adaptive and tunable micro-optic components, MEMS/NEMS optical beam steering and phased arrays, biomedical micro optical devices, MEMS devices and components tailored for highly integrated photonic circuits, and advancements in related fabrication, packaging, and system integration.

Optical Sensing and Computational Imaging Systems
Description: This session will focus on recent advances in the theoretical, computational and algorithmic methods underpinning the development of optical imaging systems for applications in consumer, industrial, military, medical, scientific, astronomical imaging applications and beyond. To cater for such a broad range of application domains, this session therefore welcomes submissions from equally diverse areas including – but not limited to – astronomical imaging, biomedical imaging, coded-aperture imaging, coded illumination, compressive sensing and imaging, computational microscopy, (hyper)spectral imaging, imaging through scattering media, infrared imaging, lensless imaging, LiDAR, light-field sensing, machine learning for computational imaging and optical systems design, non-line-of-sight imaging, phase imaging, ptychography, remote sensing, SAR, super-resolution and tomography.”

Track HMB: Human State Measurement and Biosensing

Description: This track will focus on technologies that are pertinent to the human element in defense using biological and human centered capabilities. The topics will include materials and devices for biosensing, biosensing methods, human state measurement and human analyst augmentation.

Materials and Devices for Biosensing
Description: This session will focus on the enabling technologies of materials and devices as they pertain to development of biosensing platforms. Particular interest will be given to topics that include new/emerging materials and devices that enable: novel biosensor design and fabrication, new or enhanced signal transduction methods, improved analyte sensitivity/selectivity, and new bioreceptor immobilization schemes.

Biosensing Methods
Description: This session will focus on the interfacing of biologically-inspired sensing elements and sensor platforms for detection and quantification of different biomarkers beyond the current state-of-the-art. Especial emphasis will be placed on the development of new technologies that allow multi-analyte quantification with high sensitivity in low biofluid volumes for next generation biomarker signature quantification.

Human State Measurement
Description: This session will focus on emerging Human State Measurement methodologies and models including, but not limited to, wearable/epidermal devices, motion capture, chemical/biochemical biomarker sensing, data analytics and machine learning. The human states of interest to measure include, but not limited to, the cognitive, psychological, physiological, and stress levels of individual or group of human. In addition, finding means and mechanisms to correlate the measured human states to the various human performance levels, such as fatigue, sleep deprivation, physical/psychological strength, are explored throughout the session.

Human Analyst Augmentation
Description: This session will focus on enabling technologies and techniques that assist a human-in-the-loop monitoring multiple real-time biosensors assessing a human state. This includes novel/emerging processes, analytics, multimodal notifications, graphical interfaces, and predictive approaches towards reducing the cognitive workload of a human operator monitoring one to multiple patients.

Track HPLSET: High Power Laser Science and Engineering Technology

Description: This track will consist of talks on high average power and high peak power lasers in the short and ultra-short pulse as well as the long duration/continuous wave domains. High peak power laser generated secondary sources such as x/gamma rays and electrons and protons will also be part of this track. Other topics will include ultrashort pulse diagnostics, nonlinear optical materials and effects, laser induced filamentation and material damage.

High Peak and Average Power Laser Technology Solid State
Description: Submissions are sought on next generation technology for developing higher peak and average power lasers, from petawatt (1015 W) and exawatt (1018 W) class lasers to high average power (> kW) lasers at various wavelengths, in CW or pulsed at ns to fs duration pulse formats. New laser gain media, novel amplifier, stretcher-compressor and optics design with optimization of parameters like group velocity dispersion and heat-load management are of interest.

Ultrashort Pulse High Power Fiber Lasers
Description: This session seeks submissions on advancement on high peak and average power fiber laser technology, including new fiber gain media, high power fiber beam combining techniques—both spatial and temporal, large core specialty fibers for high power applications, etc.

Secondary Source Development From Uspl (Ghz-Thz to X/Gamma Rays to Mev Electrons and Protons)
Description: This track seeks submissions focused on high power USPL based radiation and particle sources and the science of source generation. Beamlike GHz-THz to x/gamma ray directed radiation, MeV to GeV electron and ion acceleration, and neutron generation are of interest.

Nonlinear Optical and Photonic Materials for High Power Lasers and Applications
Description: This track seeks submissions focused on high power laser source generation, including USPL sources, primarily through nonlinear processes and through use of nonlinear optical and photonic materials. Source miniaturization, wavelength diversity, stable and self-starting USPL sources with minimal free-space optics are especially of interest. Exploration of limits of high power generation through device demonstration or measurements of material and coating properties is also of interest.

Track LDPM: Low-dimensional Photonic Materials

Description: This track will focus on low-dimensional materials for applications in photonics. Topics will include the discovery, synthesis, modeling, simulation, characterization and processing of two-dimensional (2D) and topological materials, as well as, their applications.

Quantum Optics and Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials
Description: This session seeks submissions broadly related to: i) topological waveguides, photonic crystals and meta-materials, ii) optical gyrotropy, iii) chiral effects iv) non-reciprocity across electromagnetic spectrum. This session also seeks submissions broadly related to novel properties of 2D systems, atomic layered systems for spintronics and optoelectronics, plasmonics and polaritonics, state of the art the synthesis, assembly and heterostructuring of 2D materials.

Modeling and Simulation for Advanced Photonics
Description: This session seeks submissions related on theoretical and computational research of low-dimensional materials, including 2D photonic and topological materials, among others. Classical, semi-classical and quantum electromagnetic methodologies that seek to explain experimental observables and to design advanced concepts are of interest. Topics on development, application and implementation of computational numerical and analytical methods, also coupled to optimization methods, data analysis tools, including machine learning algorithms, or derivation of appropriate materials properties are sought. M&S for advanced applications, include, for example, photonic or electronic devices, quantum phenomena, or metamaterials design.

Synthesis and Fabrication of 2D Materials
Description: This session focuses on synthetic approaches to creating high quality two-dimensional thin film materials including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorous, heterostructures, and the ever-expanding list of van der Waals layered materials. Growth and fabrication methodologies including mechanical and chemical exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, and molecular beam epitaxy will be discussed with a focus towards enabling novel materials and properties for defense-related photonic applications.

Two Dimensional and Topological Materials
Description: This session seeks submissions related to 2D and topological materials and heterostructures for photonics. 2D materials, Topological insulators, Weyl semimetals, Dirac semimetals, and novel materials exhibiting topological behavior are of interest. Topics on the synthesis, characterization and incorporation of these materials into photonic applications are sought. The exploration and development of new 2D and topological materials is also relevant.

Quantum Optics and Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials
Description: This session seeks submissions broadly related to quantum optical effects in low-dimensional materials and light-related phenomena in quantum materials. Topics of interest include: i) low-dimensional quantum emitters and entanglement sources, ii) photonic integration of quantum emitters and quantum materials, iii) optical and electronic probes of quantum materials. Theory and simulation related to these subjects are also of interest. This session is also open to quantum-enabled devices for sensing or other applications.

Track MMAP: Materials and Manufacturing for Advanced Photonics

Description: This track will focus on the materials, processes, and manufacturing technologies required for advanced photonics. Topics will include novel materials, semiconductor materials and quantum nanoscience, liquid crystal technology, as well as bottom-up/additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping.

Novel Materials for Photonics
Description: This session seeks submission related to various materials for photonic applications. Of great interests are novel materials and structures that are enabling new functions relevant to DoD applications. Potential examples include (not limited to) amorphous or disordered materials, graphene and beyond 2D materials, complex oxides, etc. Also sought are synthesis, growth and fabrication techniques that address these materials.

Semiconductor Materials and Quantum Nanoscience
Description: This session seeks submissions on quantum devices containing wells, dots, wires, etc. and related modeling, fabrication and characterization. Particular emphasis should be on the processing and material characteristics that limit or extend their use for their intended application. Examples are nanoscale quantum optics and optomechanics devices, novel single photon detector materials, novel plasmonic structures, etc.

Liquid Crystal Technology
Description: This session covers the area of dynamic optical materials and devices enabled through the use of liquid crystalline (LC) materials. Liquid crystals are optically active materials capable of responding to various stimuli, including light, heat and electric fields, and thus are promising for many cutting-edge dynamic optical technologies, dramatically reducing their size, weight and power consumption. Topics of interest for submission include but are not limited to: new LC device concepts, wavelength-tunable LC photonics, non-mechanical optical beam steering and field-of-view switching systems, LC-based switchable diffractive optics and beam shaping devices, LC integrated photonics, liquid crystalline material processing techniques (polymer stabilization, photoalignment and others) and other novel LC endowed dynamic electromagnetic effects – plasmonics, metasurfaces, and dynamic microwave materials based on LC’s, etc.)

Scalable Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping for Photonics
Description: Fundamental process innovations are needed to enable a range of next generation photonic technologies. This session will focus on challenges in the area of photonic materials and device fabrication, especially for large-area applications. This session will emphasize manufacturing methods including or related to 3-D printing, bottom-up synthesis of hierarchical nanoscale materials and devices, self-assembly, separation/purification processes, and high-throughput characterization.

Track NPNMAP: Novel Phenomena and New Materials for Advanced Photonics

Description: This track will cover some of the most exciting developments in light-matter interaction in new materials of interest for advanced photonics. Topics include: dynamic control of plasmonics, flexible electronics and photonics, integrated quantum photonics, as well as chiral and nonlinear metamaterials.

Dynamic Control of Self-assembled Plasmonic Nanostructures
Description: This session seeks submissions focused on the directed self-assembly of one, two or three dimensional plasmonic nanoparticle assemblies in suspensions or on surfaces. Their optical, chemical or biological responses resulting from controlling their size, shape, order, geometry, material, or charge-transfer. Dynamic tunability of both the linear and nonlinear optical processes, from ultra-fast to steady-state, is also of interest.

Flexible Photonics and Electronics
Description: This session covers the area of flexible electronics and photonics from new device concepts to applications. With advances in material development, new device structures are being proposed and investigated with unprecedented performance for a wide range of DoD applications. Topics of submission include, but not limited to: hybrid flexible electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics, organic/inorganic integration, flexible RF electronics and RF photonics, wearable and implantable electronics, bio-compatible devices and integrated systems, flexible large scale integration of electronics and photonics with system level defense relevant applications in RF ranging, infrared imaging, sensing, information processing, etc.

Integrated Quantum Photonics
Description: This session seeks original contributions in the area of integrated quantum photonics including, but not limited to: chip-scale quantum photonic integration platforms; nonlinear integrated optics for quantum photonics; on-chip quantum emitter synthesis, integration and characterization; cavity quantum electrodynamics with single emitters; hybrid and heterogeneous integrated quantum photonics; on-chip quantum light sources and detectors; entanglement generation and characterization; quantum cavity optomechanics; integrated photonic quantum simulation, computation, metrology and communications; scalable integrated quantum photonic devices; novel materials for integrated quantum photonics.

Chiral and Nonlinear Nano/Meta-materials
Description: Chiral and Nonlinear nano/meta-materials: Because of the possibility to tune the geometric and optical chirality parameters in artificial nano/meta-materials, the general area of chirality is currently undergoing a remarkable revolution. Due to the favorable power-law scaling of near-field enhancements, new nonlinear optical properties are emerging in chiral metasurfaces and metamaterials as well. Topics: Fabrication of chiral metamaterials, including top-down and bottom-up approaches; Experimental characterization of nonlinearities in metamaterials and metasurfaces; Fabrication techniques for metamaterials with enhanced nonlinear response; Experimental characterization of chiral metamaterials; Chirality of nonlinear optical interactions in metamaterials; Optical nonlinearities in graphene and other 2D materials; Theoretical modelling of nonlinear metamaterials, including material properties characterizing the second and third harmonic generated light; Theoretical frameworks for chiral metamaterials, including design of metamaterials with enhanced chirality; Computational methods for chiral and nonlinear metamaterials; Superchiral light and chiral metasurfaces; Interactions between (super)chiral meta/nanomaterials and quantum systems (atoms and molecules).

Track OEDDIP: Optical Emitters, Detectors and Devices

Description: This track will examine devices and materials that enable imaging and sensing platforms. The topics covered will include integrated photonics and optical devices, UV optoelectronics, lasers/emitters, and epitaxial growth/characterization.

Integrated Photonics and Optical Devices
Description: Topics include all types of passive or active integrated photonic devices or circuits on silicon or III-V substrates such as waveguides, modulators, couplers, micro-resonators, devices incorporate nanophotonic features, subwavelength metastructures and metasurfaces, high-contrast gratings, plasmonic structures, quantum confinement, etc. These also include hybrid integration schemes, input/output coupling methods, electronic-optical interfacing, studies of laser dynamics and noise in integrated systems. Papers addressing the physics, design, numerical modeling, and experimental realization of integrated optical devices and systems are sought.

UV Optoelectronics
Description: In this session, we will discuss recent advancements in the development of UV optoelectronic devices (λ < 400 nm). The target is to highlight major recent achievements in the field, foster an exchange of ideas and collaborations, and accelerate future development of such technology. Topics will include recent advancements in the field of epitaxial growth of III-nitrides and oxides for UV emitters, doping and control of defects, device design and novel devices, fabrication and contacts for electrically injected lasers and LEDs, and characterization and properties of state-of-the-art emitters. This also includes improved light extraction in UV LEDs, photonics crystals, UV detectors, and new materials for UV optoelectronic applications. Finally, contributions highlighting developments beyond the device level such as wave guiding, integrated photonic circuits, and UV based optoelectronic systems will be included.

Lasers/Emitters
Description: This session will showcase original work on emitters operating across the electromagnetic spectrum (UV to THz). Topics include lasers operating from THz to UV, dynamics and noise in semiconductor lasers and systems, nano- or subwavelength- scale lasers and emitters, emitters based on low-dimensional materials (quantum wires, dots and layered materials), vertical cavity emitters, fiber lasers, high power and high brightness sources and source arrays, ultrafast lasers, and emitters for integrated photonic applications. In addition, we seek results demonstrating novel materials systems for light emitters and approaches for leveraging enhanced light-matter interaction for new forms of light emitters, including emitters to generate non-classical light. Finally, submissions demonstrating applications of emitters and sources for security, defense, and sensing applications, as well as the development of optical systems based on new types of light sources, are encouraged.

Epitaxial Growth, Fabrication and Characterization
Description: This session seeks submissions related to the epitaxial growth of materials, characterization, and fabrication into photonic devices. Novel growth techniques, fabrication approaches, and material characterization that enable new functionality are of greatest interest. Representative topics include, but are not limited to, growth and characterization of III-V semiconductors (e.g., arsenides, phosphides, nitrides, and antimonides), material characterization techniques (e.g., microscopy and other in situ diagnostics), and fabrication techniques (such as bottom-up self-assembly and top-down lithography) for novel photonic devices.

Track OIST: Optical Imaging and Sensing Technology

Description: This track will cover optical imaging and sensing technology that supports detection, recognition, classification and characterization for defense applications. Topics include spectral, polarimetric, and multimodal imaging; optical detectors and focal plane arrays; terahertz photonics; and target detection and pattern recognition.

Spectral, Polarimetric, and Multimodal Imaging
Description: This session will explore emerging developments in sensor concepts and designs, system analysis, target and background phenomenology, and signal and image processing methods relating to hyperspectral, multispectral, and polarimetric imaging systems. Defense applications ranging from close-proximity non-destructive evaluation to remote sensing for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting will be considered. Additionally, sensors and systems that enable multi-modal measurements across space, spectrum, time, angle, polarization, and distance, and their associated tradespaces, will be discussed.

Optical Detectors and Focal Plane Arrays
Description: Topics include photoconductive and photovoltaic devices from UV to THz; novel detector materials; quantum confined detectors; thermal and photon detectors; high speed detectors; novel detection mechanisms including plasmonic and metamaterials; polarization sensors; multispectral and hyperspectral sensors; and phase-change materials for photodetection; MEMS-based components; focal plane arrays, novel hybridization and heterogeneous integration techniques; multicolor and tunable focal plane arrays.

RF and Optical Target Imaging, Identification, and Pattern Recognition
Description: We seek papers on new techniques for extracting target information from RF or optical sensor data. Extracted target information may include location, velocity, constituent electrical properties, shape, class, or any other distinguishing characteristic. Papers focusing on advancements in algorithms, signal processing techniques, or hardware strategies are welcome. Techniques of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Image formation and image processing, Compressive sensing, Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and automatic target recognition, Inverse scattering and inverse problems, Computational electromagnetics, Synthetic aperture radar, Array signal processing, Micro-Doppler analysis, Sensor fusion and Polarimetric and interferometric processing.

Terahertz Photonics
Description: This session seeks submissions related to broad applications of THz photonics. Generally defined in the frequency range of 0.3–10THz, THz photonics has attracted tremendous interest owing to potential applications in imaging, sensing, broadband communications, security, defense, and non-destructive testing. Theoretical, numerical, and experimental papers are sought that cover topics included; advances in THz sources and detectors, devices, QCLs, other components and imaging systems; antennas and sensors; novel materials, such as ferroelectrics, superconductors, nanostructures, and low- and two-dimensional materials; new phenomena in THz metamaterials, metasurfaces, plasmonics, waveguides, photonic crystals, phonons, and nonlinearities; new quantum phenomena; and applications of spectroscopic techniques and other THz radiation in physical and life sciences and industry.

Track OMPEES: Optical Metamaterials, Plasmonics and Engineered Electromagnetic Structures

Description: The track will cover micro- and nano- technologies that have enabled unprecedented control of light – matter interactions on the subwavelength scale. The track will have dedicated sessions focusing on experimental, theoretical and device application aspects of nanophotonics, photonic lattices, plasmonics, optical metamaterials and metasurfaces.

Resonant Photonic Lattices: Principles and Applications
Description: Subwavelength scale optical devices with 1D or 2D pattering constitute generalized optical lattices facilitating complex transformations of electromagnetic fields in spectral and spatial domains. In modern parlance, this device class contains metamaterials, metagratings, and photonic crystals. This session addresses linear and nonlinear resonant optical interactions enabled by lightwave confinement and/or scattering in such structures. Topics of submission include guided-mode resonance physics and effects, novel subwavelength resonator concepts, nonreciprocity in photonic lattices, effects of highly confined optical modes, nonlinear phenomena in periodic waveguides, metamaterial reflector physics, resonant optical sensor concepts and related topics.

Optical Metamaterials Based Devices and Applications
Description: Optical Metamaterials have opened the door to unprecedented control of the electromagnetic material properties and created a remarkable platform for manipulating and enhancing light-matter interactions by design. In addition, they enabled the realization of many material properties that cannot be found in natural materials. This ability has led to novel and counter-intuitive concepts, devices, and creative solutions to long-standing technological challenges. This session seeks submissions that cover a broad range of metamaterials-related topics, including but not limited to: novel device concepts; nonlinear, tunable, and reconfigurable metamaterials; chiral and bianisotropic metamaterials; nonreciprocal and topological metamaterials; quantum metamaterials; homogenization and effective medium models; transformation electromagnetics; metamaterials for chemical and biological sensing; experimental techniques and characterization of metamaterials, and system-level devices integration that is enabled/enhanced by metamaterials.

Plasmonic Devices and Applications
Description: This session covers the area of plasmonics and nanophotonics from new device concepts to applications. Surface plasmons in metal nanostructures enable manipulation of light at the subwavelength scale for increasing levels of integration and miniaturization of integrated photonic devices and components. This will potentially lead to ultrafast devices and circuits with significantly reduced sizes. Topics of submission include but not limited to: dynamically tunable plasmonics and nanophotonics, nano-gap structure plasmonics for sensing and energy harvesting, plasmon resonance enhanced nonlinear optics, optical filters with plasmonic nanostructures, polarization and phase control with plasmonic nanostructure metasurfaces, ultra-violet (UV) plasmonics, plasmonics for biosensing and spectroscopy, photon and atom trapping in plasmonic nanostructures, and other plasmonic based devices and components for highly integrated plasmonic/photonic circuits for information processing and sensing applications.

Active Metasurfaces and Flat-optics
Description: Metasurfaces are of great promise for ultra-compact and multifunctional photonic devices with a wide range of applications from beam forming and holography to optical computing. This session covers most recent advances in the field of active and tunable flat optics platforms based on all-dielectric and plasmonic metasurfaces. Topics of particular focus include, but are not limited to reconfigurable and tunable metasurfaces, beam forming and steering, emerging metasurface based imaging systems, and all-optical image processing and computing.

Track OPM: Organic Photonic Materials

Description: This track covers advances in the development of organic photonic materials including: charge transport in organic materials, nonlinear organic materials, infrared organic materials and properties, and hybrid organic-inorganic materials and devices. Broadly these materials are being developed for defense applications including photovoltaics, OLEDs, nonlinear absorbers, frequency conversion, photorefractives, IR detectors, antennas, photodectectors, and sensing.

Charge Transport in Organic Materials
Description: Charge carrier dynamics in organic materials play a critical role in dictating the performance of organic light emitting diodes, photodetectors, field effect transistors, solar cells, and more. Charge transport rate and efficacy are influenced by variables such as molecular structure, film morphology, and defect density, to name a few. Understanding and controlling these variables are critical to maximizing the performance of organic materials for semiconductor applications requires a cross-disciplinary effort spanning chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering. As such, this session welcomes any theoretical and experimental studies providing new insights into charge transport in organic materials including modeling/simulations of bulk materials and interfaces, emerging measurement techniques, innovative technologies/applications, and new syntheses/designs for organic charge transport materials.

Nonlinear Organic Materials
Description: This Session will focus on the design, spectroscopy, and performance characteristics of organic and organometallic materials possessing nonlinear photonic properties. This includes both solution and solid state materials and covers effects induced by nonlinear absorption (such as two-photon absorption or reverse-saturable absorption), nonlinear refraction, and frequency conversion.

Infrared Organic Materials & Properties
Description: Polymers and small molecules with bandgaps and other direct electronic transitions in the infrared spectral regions between 1 um – 14 um (shortwave infrared – longwave infrared) are a newly emerging area of organic materials. This topic will cover the infrared properties of organic polymers and small molecules intended for use into domains traditionally dominated by inorganic materials. It will include fundamental photophysical studies, device work, thin film processing, and organic materials with other interesting infrared, optical, electrical, spin, and magnetic properties.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials & Devices
Description: This session invites submissions related to the rapidly growing field of organic and organic-inorganic materials for flexible, conformal optoelectronics. Topics to be covered include, but are limited to, advances in materials to improve and better control the electrical, mechanical, chemical, and optical properties in thin films and at interfaces, and advances in the design, modeling, and characterization of devices. Papers are also sought on new methods to adjust the properties of these organic or hybrid materials for the manufacturing of printable, flexible devices.

Track PDS: Photonics for Defense Systems

Description: This track will assess the state-of-the-art of photonics technologies to applications and systems that are relevant in defense. The topics covered will include EO/IR/LADAR, hardware and software testing of optical systems, instrumentation and control for test and evaluation, T&E tools, challenges, and opportunities in photonics, and special operations interests.

EO/IR/LADAR
Description: This session focuses on the use of state of the art EO/IR passive imaging and LADAR sensor systems for defense applications such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting. EO/IR passive and active imaging systems are required to accomplish these goals for moving and stationary targets in a diverse range of settings including desert, forest, and urban environments. Sensors need to be able to robustly differentiate between background objects and targets of interest. Modeling and/or experimental investigation of the performance of these systems for detecting, tracking, recognizing, and identifying targets is of interest. Operational spectral bands may include visible to the long wave IR. LADAR systems considered for this section may include multispectral, polarimetric, as well as other sensing modalities.

Instrumentation and Control for Test and Evaluation
Description: Modern systems are critically dependent on verification and validation of their parts, as well as the sum of their parts in order to be used with the highest possible confidence. It is critical that test and evaluation be accomplished with not only the highest degree of accuracy possible, but also with the greatest degree of certainty possible. Uncertainties in test data translate directly into uncertainties in the item under test. This session welcomes submissions discussing innovative test control and monitoring techniques, processes and procedures from hardware and software perspectives, in real time and post processing. The goal is to optimize how tests can be controlled, monitored and evaluated to estimate and reduce uncertainty and maximize confidence in the results.

T&E Tools, Challenges, and Opportunities in Photonics
Description: The National Defense Strategy shares increased emphasis on new technologies to include: advanced computing, “big data“ analytics, artificial intelligence, autonomy, robotics, directed energy, hypersonics, and biotechnology. These new technologies will need to be tested effectively and in relevant contexts and domains. New technologies, methods and standards to enable future T&E are needed to keep pace with today’s rapid developments, as well as the need to protect cyber data flows in an increasingly contested environment.

Main focus: Recruiting, Mentoring, and Equipping the Next Generation of Testers. Potential Topics Covered:

Topic 1: Developing a Work Force to Meet Growing National Needs in Photonics
Topic 2: Increasing Strategic Partnerships for Education, Critical Skills and Recruiting
Topic 3: Increasing Research Partnerships with Government, Universities and Industry for Work Force Development.
Topic 4: Enabling Technologies to Create a Highly Proficient T&E Work Force and Digital Eco-System
Topic 5: Enhancing the Mentoring Culture to Reproduce New Mentors

This forum’s goal is to be an informal, Q&A discussion with an intent to listen and solicit questions/ideas/initiatives from the participants. This could include new partnerships and basic research topics for collaboration, current concerns, proposed recommendations and solutions. Finally, it asks what we can do better to resource and facilitate the vital connections represented in this IEEE forum. As an approximate framework, each topic could involve approximately 20-25 minutes of Q&A.

Special Operations Interests
Description: This session covers research and development of photonic-enabled capabilities that address several areas of interest to the AF Special Operations Forces (SOF). Air Force Special operations Command (AFSOC) SOF have has identified several capability areas where novel application of photonics may be able to increase the effectiveness of their mission through reduced cost, size, weight and power and/or new capabilitiesy. Topics of submission include, but are not limited to, technologies that enhance aviation systems, command, control, communications, and computers (C4), intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), irregular warfare, advanced sensors, air delivered weapons and electronic attack. Examples include the ability to increase access in denied airspace with adequate full spectrum threat warning and countermeasures against radio frequency (RF), electro-optic (EO), infrared (IR), directed energy (DE), and electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Further topics of interest include improved ability to sense, acquire, engage, and assess adversary/enemy activities through low visibility/environmental conditions and complex combat environments; precision navigation for enroute, terminal, and formation aircraft navigation; and survivor Location and identification that provides accurate, near real-time location and identification data for team/aircrew/aircraft recovery.