Yu Yao
Harvard University
9 Oxford St., McKay 125
Cambridge, MA, 02138
yuyao@seas.harvard.edu
Work: 617-496-4310
Cell: 609-375-5949
http://scholar.harvard.edu/yuyao
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
2006-2011
Thesis “Quantum cascade lasers with extended spectral range and tunability” Advisor: Claire F. Gmachl
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2004-2006
Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Distinguished Graduate
2000-2004
Research Interests
Nanophotonics and subwavelength optoelectronics: nano-scale photonic and optoelectronic devices
based on semiconductor nanostructures, plasmonics as well as emerging materials and their application
in integrated photonics and optoelectronics at infrared and Terahertz wavelength ranges, sensors and
energy applications.
Semiconductor nanostructures, graphene and other 2D materials: electronic transport and optic
properties of semiconductor nanostructures, graphene and graphene heterostructures and their
applications in photo-detection, flexible optoelectronics and reconfigurable optical devices.
Mid-infrared technology and its application in biomedical sensing: ultra-compact mid-infrared laser
sources, detectors and other integrated photonic and optoelectronic devices for sensing, medical and
imaging applications.
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Advisor: Federico Capasso
06/2011 – Present
• Active plasmonics
o Investigated the tuning mechanism of optical antennas with graphene using full wave
simulation and circuit model analysis
o Demonstrated electrically tunable plasmonic structures
• Integrated silicon photonics
o Designed and demonstrated tunable photonic crystal cavities with graphene for on-chip
optoelectronic devices in mid-infrared wavelength
• Photo-detectors and energy harvesting
o Designed and demonstrated room temperature mid-infrared graphene detectors with
nanosecond response time from infrared radiation
o Investigating photovoltaic effect in graphene for energy harvesting in infrared wavelength
Research assistant, Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Advisor: Claire F. Gmachl
01/2007—06/2011
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Band structure engineering of intersubband semiconductor devices
o Designed and demonstrated InGaAs/AlInAs quantum cascade structures with broadband
mid-infrared gain medium
o Deployed Quantum Cascade structures in II-VI material systems and demonstrated room
temperature electroluminescence
o Investigated the electron transport and gain spectra in Quantum Cascade lasers with a
simplified density matrix model
Widely wavelength tunable Quantum Cascade lasers
Yu Yao
RESUME
Designed and demonstrated widely voltage tunable Quantum Cascade lasers with band
structure engineering
o Demonstrated widely tunable single mode Quantum Cascade lasers based on the broadband
gain design with external cavity tuning and investigated the gain broadening mechanism.
o Demonstrated a compact widely tunable mid-infrared laser source with an array of ring cavity
surface emitting Quantum Cascade lasers
Demonstrated dynamic beam shaping of surface emitting Quantum Cascade lasers
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Research intern, Photonics Institute, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
Advisor: Karl Unterrainer
06/2009—08/2009
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Investigated the ultrafast dynamics in Quantum Cascade structures using time domain spectroscopy.
Studied beam steering and beam shaping in surface emission lasers
Research intern, Corning Inc., Corning, NY
Advisor: Chung-En Zah
• Built automated characterization setup for Quantum Cascade lasers
• Designed Quantum Cascade lasers at 4.6 µm and 5.3 µm
Research assistant, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University
Advisor: Xiangfei Chen, Shizhong Xie
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05/2008—08/2008
09/2004—07/2006
Designed and fabricated optical fiber grating devices for communication systems.
Demonstrated a new method to make dual-wavelength single mode fiber lasers and an optical
microwave generator
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant
ELE 102 “New Eyes for the World”, Electrical Engineering, Princeton University
Spring 2009
A hands-on lab course introducing non-science/ non-engineering students to several modern topics of
engineering electronics and optics
(Won the outstanding teaching assistant award)
ELE 208 “Integrated Circuits: Practice and Principles”, Electrical Engineering, Princeton University
Spring 2010
An introduction course for engineering students to the physics and fabrication technology of
semiconductor devices with a hands-on integrated circuit micro-fabrication lab
Selected Awards and Fellowships
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Wu Prize for Excellence in Graduate work, Princeton University
2010
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Princeton University
2009
First Prize, Scholarship for Excellent Graduate (Guanghua Scholarship), Tsinghua University
2005
Distinguished Graduate, Tsinghua Univ.
2004
First Prize, Scholarship for Academic Excellence (Shunde Wu Scholarship),Tsinghua University 2003
Peer-reviewed Publications
1. R. Shankar, Y. Yao (equal contribution), Y. Song, J. Kong, F. Capasso and M. Loncar, “Electro-optic
tuning of mid-infrared silicon photonic crystal cavities using graphene”, manuscript in preparation.
2. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, R. Shankar, Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar, and F. Capasso, “Ultra-compact high speed
mid-infrared modulators based on electrically tunable metasurfaces”, manuscript in preparation.
3. Y. Yao, R. Shankar, Patrick Rauter, Y. Song, M. Loncar, J. Kong, and F. Capasso, “High responsivity
mid-infrared graphene detectors with antenna enhanced photo-carrier generation and collection”,
manuscript in review.
4. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, R. Shankar, Y. Song, M. Loncar, J. Kong, and F. Capasso, “Wide wavelength tuning
of optical antennas on graphene with nanosecond response time”, Nano Letters, 14, 214-219, 2014.
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Yu Yao
RESUME
5. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, P. Genevet, N. Yu, Y. Song, J. Kong, and F. Capasso, “Broad electrical tuning of
graphene-loaded plasmonic antennas”, Nano Letters, 13, 1257–1264, 2013.
6. Y. Yao, A.J. Hoffman, and C.F. Gmachl, “Mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers”, (invited) Nature
Photonics, 6, 432-439, 2012.
7. Y. Yao, A. Alfaro-Martinez, K.J. Franz, W.O. Charles, A. Shen, et al. “Room temperature and narrow
intersubband electroluminescence from ZnCdSe/ ZnCdMgSe quantum cascade laser structures”, Appl.
Phys. Lett.,99, 041113,2011.
8. Y. Yao, X. Wang, J. Fan and C. F. Gmachl, “High performance ‘continuum-to-continuum’ Quantum
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Cascade lasers with a broad gain bandwidth over 400 cm ”, Applied Physics Letters, 97, 081115, 2010.
9. Y. Yao, T. Tsai, W.O. Charles, J. Chen, G. Wysocki and C. F. Gmachl, “Broadband Quantum Cascade
laser gain medium based on a "continuum-to-bound" active region design”, Applied Physics Letters, 96,
211106, 2010.
10. Y. Yao, K. J. Franz, X. Wang, J. Fan, C. F. Gmachl, “A widely voltage-tunable Quantum Cascade laser
based on “two-step” coupling,” Applied Physics Letters, 95, 021105, 2009.
11. Y. Yao, Z. Liu, A. J. Hoffman, K. J. Franz, C. F. Gmachl, “Voltage tunability of Quantum Cascade lasers,”
IEEE J. Quantum Electron, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 730-736, June 2009.
12. Y. Yao, Xiangfei Chen, Yitang Dai, and Shizhong Xie, “Dual-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser with a
simple linear cavity and its application in microwave generation,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. vol. 18,
no.1, pp. 187-189, Jan. 2006.
13. R.T. Moug, H. Sultana, Y. Yao, A. Alfaro-Martinez, L. Peng, et al. “Optimization of Molecular Beam
Epitaxy (MBE) Growth for the Development of Mid-Infrared (IR) II–VI Quantum Cascade Lasers”, J.
Electron. Mater., 41, 944-947, 2012.
14. E. Mujagic, C. Schwarzer, Y. Yao, J. Chen, C. Gmachl, and Gottfried Strasser, “Two-dimensional
broadband distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser arrays”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 98, 141101, 2011.
15. E. Mujagic, C. Schwarze, W. Schrenk, Y. Yao, J. Chen, C. F. Gmachl, G. Strasser, “Strategies toward the
realization of two-dimensional broadband and coherent quantum cascade ring laser arrays”, Optical
Engineering 49(11), 111113, 2010.
16. C. Schwarzer, E. Mujagić, Y. Yao, W. Schrenk, J. Chen, C. Gmachl, and G. Strasser, “Coherent coupling
of ring cavity surface emitting quantum cascade lasers”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 071103 (2010).
17. W. O. Charles, Y. Yao, K. J. Franz, Q. Zhang, A. Shen, C. Gmachl and M. C. Tamargo, “Growth of
Znx’Cd(1-x’)Se/ZnxCdyMg(1-x-y)Se -InP Quantum Cascade structures for emission in the 3 – 5 µm range”, J.
Vac. Sci. Technol. B Vol. 28, Issue 3, pp. C3G24-C3G27, 2010.
18. K.J. Franz, P.Q. Liu, J. Raftery, M.D. Escarra, A.J. Hoffman, S.S. Howard, Y. Yao, Y. Dikmelik, X. Wang,
J. Fan, J. B Kurgin, C. Gmachl, et al. “Short Injector Quantum Cascade Lasers”, IEEE J. Quantum
Electron., 46, 591-600, 2010.
19. C. Young, R. Cendejas; S. S. Howard, W. Sanchez-Vaynshteyn, A. J. Hoffman, K. J. Franz, Y. Yao, B.
Mizaikoff, X. Wang, J. Fan, C. F. Gmachl. “Wavelength selection for Quantum Cascade lasers by cavity
length”, Applied Physics Letters, 94, 091109, 2009.
20. Y. Dai, X. Chen, J. Sun, Y. Yao, S. Xie, “Dual-wavelength DFB fiber laser based on a chirped structure
and the equivalent phase shift method”, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. Vol. 18, No. 18, pp. 1964 –
1966 Sep. 2006.
21. Y. Dai, X. Chen, J. Sun, Y. Yao, S. Xie, “Dispersion compensation based on sampled fiber Bragg gratings
fabricated with reconstruction equivalent-chirp method”, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. Vol. 18, No. 8,
pp941-943, April 2006.
22. Y. Dai, X. Chen, J. Sun, Y. Yao, and S. Xie, “High-performance, high-chip-count optical code division
multiple access encoders-decoders based on a reconstruction equivalent-chirp technique”, Opt. Lett., vol,
31, pp. 1618-1620, 2006.
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Yu Yao
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Invited Conference Presentations
1. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, R. Shankar,Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar, and F. Capasso, “Ultra-compact high speed
mid-IR modulators based on electrically tunable metasurfaces”, IEEE. Summer topicals meeting series,
Montréal, Québec, Canada, July, 2014.
2. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, R. Shankar,Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar, and F. Capasso, “Electrically tunable
plasmonic antennas on graphene”, Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, Jan. 2014.
3. Y. Yao, T. Tsai, X. Wang, G. Wysocki, and C.F. Gmachl. ‘Broadband Quantum Cascade Lasers Based
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on Strongly-coupled Transitions with an External Cavity Tuning Range over 340 cm ’, International
Conference on Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells (ITQW), Badesi, Italy, Sep. 2011.
4. Y. Yao, X. Wang, J. Fan, W. O. Charles, T. R. Tsai, J. Chen, G. Wysocki, C. F. Gmachl, “High
performance quantum cascade lasers with broadband gain spectra”, Photonics West, San Francisco, CA,
Jan. 2011.
Selected Conference Presentations
1. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, R. Shankar, Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar and F. Capasso, “Widely Electrically
Tunable Metal-Graphene Metasurfaces with Nanoscale Response Times”, MRS Fall Meeting, Boston,
Massachusetts, 2013.
2. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, P. Genevet, N. Yu, Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar and F. Capasso, “Broad electrical
tuning of graphene-loaded optical antennas”. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum
Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS), QTh1B.3, Baltimore, Maryland, 2013.
3. R. Shankar, Y. Yao, J. Frish, I. Frank, Y. Song, J. Kong, M. Loncar and F. Capasso, “Electro-Optic tuning
of mid-infrared photonic crystal cavities using graphene”. Conference on Lasers and ElectroOptics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS), CTu1F.5, Baltimore,
Maryland, 2013.
4. Y. Yao, M. A. Kats, P. Genevet, N. Yu, Y. Song, J. Kong, and F. Capasso, “Electrically Tunable
Graphene-metal Plasmonic Antennas”, MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, 2012.
5. Y. Yao, M. Bouzi, N. L. Aung, P. Q. Liu, Y. Huang, X. Wang, and C. Gmachl, “Intra-pulse modal instability
and beam steering in quantum cascade lasers,” Lester Eastman Conference on High Performance
Devices (LEC), in the Conference Proceedings, August, 2012.
6. Y. Yao, T. Tsai, X. Wang, G. Wysocki, and C.F. Gmachl. ‘Broadband Quantum Cascade Lasers Based
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on Strongly-coupled Transitions with an External Cavity Tuning Range over 340 cm ’, Conference on
Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS), Baltimore,
Maryland, 2011.
7. Y. Yao, H. Yuting, W. Xiaojun, and C.F. Gmachl. ‘Modal instability and beam steering in quantum
cascade lasers’. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science
Conference (CLEO/QELS), Baltimore, Maryland, 2011
8. Y. Yao, X. Wang, J. Y. Fan, W.O. Charles, T. Tsai, et al. “High performance quantum cascade lasers with
broadband gain spectra”, Proc. SPIE, 7953, pp. 795317, 2011.
9. Y. Yao, W.O. Charles, T. Tsai, J. Chen, X. Wang, J. Fan, G. Wysocki and C. F. Gmachl, “Broadband
Quantum Cascade laser gain media”, International Conference on. Mid-infrared Optoelectronics-Materials
and Devices MIOMD-X, Shanghai, China, Sep. 2010.
10. Y. Yao, W.O. Charles, K. J. Franz, A. Shen and C. F. Gmachl, “Improvement on the luminescence
efficiency, electroluminescence linewidth and transport perperties of ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe Quantum
Cascade structures”, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science
Conference (CLEO/QELS) San Jose, CA., May,2010.
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Yu Yao
RESUME
11. Y. Yao, T. Tsai, W.O. Charles, J. Chen, G. Wysocki and C. F. Gmachl, “Broadband gain from continuumto-bound Quantum Cascade lasers,” Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and
Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS) San Jose, CA., May, 2010.
12. Y. Yao, K.J. Franz, X. Wang J. Fan and C. F. Gmachl, “ A widely voltage-tunable Quantum Cascade laser
design,” poster presentation, International Conference on Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells
(ITQW), Montreal, QC. Canada, Sep. 2009.
13. Y Yao, K. J. Franz, X. Wang, J. Fan, C. F. Gmachl, “Widely voltage tunable quantum cascade lasers”
Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference
(CLEO/QELS) 2009. San Jose, CA. June 2009.
14. Y. Yao, K.J. Franz, Z. Liu, A.J. Hoffman, and C.F. Gmachl. ‘Voltage tuning of gain spectra in quantum
cascade lasers’. Photonics West, San Jose, CA, Jan. 2009. In the Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume
7230, pp. 723012-723012-10, 2009.
15. E. Mujagic, C. Schwarzer, W. Schrenk, Y. Yao, J. Chen, C. F. Gmachl, G. Strasser, “Two-dimensional
surface emitting single mode quantum cascade laser arrays”, Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, Jan.
2011.
16. Y. Huang, Y. Yao, K. Al-Naimee, and C.F. Gmachl. ‘Light Instability in Pulsed Quantum Cascade Lasers’.
APS March Meeting, Dallas, Texas, 2011.
17. R. Lewicki, A. Kosterev, F. Toor, Y. Yao, C. Gmachl, X. Wang, M. Fong, F. K. Tittel, “Laser absorption
spectroscopy based on a 7.74 μm Quantum Cascade laser source for UF6 analytical enrichment
measurements”, Photonics West conference, San Jose, CA., Jan. 2010.
18. C. Schwarzer, E. Mujagic, Y. Yao, et al, ‘Coupling strategies for two dimensional coherent semiconductor
arrays’. International Conference on Infrared Millimeter and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Angelicum Rome, Italy, 2010.
19. M. Escarra, P. Liu, Y. Yao, R. Cendejas, L. Le, et al. ‘High Performance Quantum Cascade Lasers’. 77th
Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the APS 2010, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
20. W. Charles, Y. Yao, A. Alfaro-Martinez, K. Franz, A. Shen, et al. ‘Wide Bandgap II-VI Selenides on InP for
Short Wavelength Intersubband Devices’. International Quantum Cascade Laser School and Workshop
(IQCLSW), Villa Finaly, Florence, Itally, 2010.
21. W.O. Charles, Y. Yao, K.J. Franz, Q. Zhang, A. Shen, C. Gmachl, M. C. Tamargo, “Investigations of
Znx’Cd1-x’Se/ZnxCdyMg(1-x-y)Se-InP Quantum Cascade Laser structures with electroluminescence
emission in the 4 to 5 μm range”, International Conference on Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells
(ITQW), Montreal, QC. Canada, Sep. 2009.
22. W. O. Charles, Y. Yao, K. J. Franz, Q. Zhang, A. Shen, C. Gmachl and M. C. Tamargo, “Growth of
Znx,Cd(1-x’)Se/ZnxCdyMg(1-x-y)Se -InP Quantum Cascade structures for emission in the 3 – 5 µm
range”, 26th North American Molecular Beam Epitaxy Conference (NAMBE 2009), Princeton, NJ. Aug.
2009.
23. J. Chen, Y. Yao, X. Huang and C. Gmachl, “Molecular Beam Epitaxy growth optimization for high
performance Quantum Cascade lasers”, 26th North American Molecular Beam Epitaxy Conference
(NAMBE 2009), Princeton, NJ. Aug. 2009.
24. Y. Dai, X. Chen, Y. Yao, J. Sun, and S. Xie, “511-Chip, 500Gchip/s OCDMA En/Decoders Based on
Equivalent Phase-Shift Method”, Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC), Anaheim, California,
2006.
25. Y. Dai, X. Chen, Y. Yao, D. Jiang, and S. Xie, “Correction of the Repeatable Errors in the Fabrication of
Sampled Bragg Gratings”, Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC), Anaheim, California, 2006.
Selected Service and Outreach
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Referee: Optics Letters, Optical and Quantum Electronics, Applied Physics Letters, Optics Express
Electronics Letters, Semiconductor Science and Technology, New Journal of Physics, Journal of
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Yu Yao
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Physics D: Applied Physics, Applied Optics, Laser & Photonics Reviews, AIP Advances, Optical
Materials Express, Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Princeton Energy & Climate Scholars student member
2010-2012
Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair Judge
2009
Volunteer at Princeton University Science & Engineering Expo
2007-2010
YSAP (Young Science Achievers Program) mentor
2008
New Jersey Science Olympiad judge
2008
Vice president of MIRTHE student leadership council
2007-2008
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