Photonics Overview - Concepedia

Principles

Definition

Photonics is a field of science and engineering dedicated to the generation, manipulation, transmission, and detection of light. It focuses on harnessing the properties of photons and their interaction with matter to create devices and systems that drive advancements in areas such as communication, sensing, and computing.

Ontological type

Core Principles

Key Technologies

Applications

Key developments

Key Figures

Coherent Quantum Photonics era

Marlan O. Scully [1] was active at Massachusetts Institute of Technology [3] and Yale University [4] during the Coherent Quantum Photonics era. His 1967 paper on the optical maser [7] provided a quantum-theoretical framework for optical masers, clarifying stimulated emission and coherence that underpinned early coherent light sources. P. M. Rentzepis [2] was affiliated with University of Cambridge [5] and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [6] during this era. His 1967 study TWO-PHOTON EXCITATION OF FLUORESCENCE BY PICOSECOND LIGHT PULSES [8] demonstrated nonlinear two-photon processes and highlighted the role of pulsed excitation in shaping nonlinear photonics.

Structured Waveguide Photonics era

Thomas W. Ebbesen [1] is associated with Princeton University [3] and The University of Tokyo [4] during this era, shaping photonics in the Structured Waveguide Photonics period. His key contributions include the demonstration and analysis of Surface plasmon subwavelength optics [7], which showed how nanoscale structuring and plasmonic resonances enable confined guided modes and informed strategies for on‑chip routing and dispersion control in structured media. William L. Barnes [2] likewise features ties to Georgia Institute of Technology [5] and the University of Southampton [6] in this era. His contributions center on Surface plasmon subwavelength optics [7], advancing understanding of localized light–matter coupling in nanoscale plasmonic structures and reinforcing the era’s emphasis on engineered dispersion and guided‑wave components.

On-Chip Quantum Nanophotonics era

Federico Capasso [1], together with affiliations at Harvard University [3] and the University of Cambridge [4], emerged as a central figure in on-chip quantum nanophotonics during this era. His key contributions include Light Propagation with Phase Discontinuities: Generalized Laws of Reflection and Refraction [6], Polarization-Controlled Tunable Directional Coupling of Surface Plasmon Polaritons [7], and A Broadband, Background-Free Quarter-Wave Plate Based on Plasmonic Metasurfaces [8], underscoring the central role of phase, polarization, and metasurface engineering for integrated quantum photonics. Patrice Genevet [2], with affiliations at Harvard University [3] and the National University of Singapore [5], was another leading innovator in this era of chip-scale photonic phase control. His notable contributions, reflected in Light Propagation with Phase Discontinuities: Generalized Laws of Reflection and Refraction [6] and A Broadband, Background-Free Quarter-Wave Plate Based on Plasmonic Metasurfaces [8], advanced metasurface-based phase and polarization control for on-chip nanophotonic devices, enabling broadband, background-free polarization manipulation and programmable wavefront engineering crucial to scalable quantum photonics.