Epscor research fellows: NSF: strongly interacting 2D trion-polaritons for scalable on-chip quantum nonlinearities

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Montana State University $299,247 on December 1, 2026, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to support an EPSCOR Research Fellows project investigating strongly interacting two-dimensional trion-polaritons for scalable on-chip quantum nonlinearities.

The fellow, an assistant professor at Montana State University, will engineer light-matter interactions at the nanoscale to achieve strong interactions between individual photons on a chip for photonic quantum information processing. The work integrates materials science, nanophotonics, and quantum optics by coupling atomically thin two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides with engineered indium gallium phosphide photonic crystal nanocavities. The project will design, fabricate, and experimentally validate a hybrid quantum polaritonic platform, scaling polaritonic phenomena to the deep-subwavelength regime through both nanophotonic field confinement and strongly nonlinear trion resonances in two-dimensional materials.

Beyond laboratory research, the project will establish advanced nanophotonics fabrication and testing capabilities to build a dedicated prototyping foundry supporting Montana's integrated photonics industry. Training includes a graduate student alongside the fellowship recipient, preparing both in state-of-the-art nanophotonic chip fabrication and optical device measurement techniques to develop a skilled workforce for the state's photonics sector. The work is conducted in collaboration with Professor Galan Moody at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Performance occurs in Santa Barbara, California. The project runs from December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2028.

Abstract

This research infrastructure improvement (RII) epscor research fellows project provides a fellowship to an assistant professor and training for a graduate student at montana state university. This work is conducted in collaboration with professor galan moody at the university of california, santa barbara. Through the fellowship, the PI will investigate how to engineer light-matter interactions at the nanoscale to address the fundamental challenge of achieving strong interactions between individual photons on a chip for photonic quantum information processing. This interdisciplinary project combines materials science, nanophotonics, and quantum optics to couple atomically thin two-dimensional crystals with engineered semiconductor nanocavities, with the goal of enabling deterministic control over single-photon interactions. Beyond the laboratory, the project will establish advanced nanophotonics fabrication and testing capabilities to build a dedicated prototyping foundry that supports the growing integrated photonics industry in montana. This initiative will directly prepare PI and students in the state-of-the-art nanophotonic chip fabrication and optical device measurement techniques, establishing a skilled talent pipeline to fuel and expand the state's photonics workforce. This project will design, fabricate, and experimentally validate a hybrid quantum polaritonic platform by integrating two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides with high-index indium gallium phosphide photonic crystal nanocavities. The intellectual contribution of this work lies in scaling polaritonic phenomena to the deep-subwavelength regime, utilizing both nanophotonic field confinement and strongly nonlinear trion resonances in two-dimensional materials to amplify polariton interactions toward the quantum regime. The methodology integrates semi-analytical modeling and full-wave finite-difference time-domain simulations with advanced nanophotonic fabrication, and low-temperature quantum optical spectroscopy. This fellowship will substantially strengthen regional research infrastructure by transferring validated III-v nanofabrication and quantum characterization protocols from the host site to the home institution. This knowledge transfer will activate and expand the capabilities of recently acquired local photonic nanofabrication and testing facilities. These activities will be fully integrated with graduate and undergraduate training, development of a new course in integrated photonic fabrication, and technical workshops for regional academic and industrial partners. This project is supported by the epscor research infrastructure improvement program: epscor research fellows (ERF), which supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation?s private, government or academic research institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.