State-dependent volume isotope shifts of low-lying states of group-IIa and -IIb elements

Results of relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations with an extended nucleus are used to analyze the volume isotope shifts of the resonance transitions in the group-IIa and -IIb elements as well as in Yb. This is done together with a review of the isotope shift theory, including a critical evaluation and comparison of the semiempirical calculation of volume isotope shifts commonly used today. Electronic factors F_i, proportional to differences of electronic densities over the nuclear volume, are discussed within various approximations and compared with experimental results.

Ions of the superheavy elements in vacuum and in solution

The extension of the Periodic Table into the range of unknown atomic numbers of above one hundred requires relativistic calculations. The results of the latter are used to indicate probable values for X-ray transition lines which will be useful for identification of the atomic species formed during collision between accelerated ions and the target. If the half-lives of the isotopes are long, then the chemistry of these new species becomes an important question which is reviewed for E110, E 111 and E112. The possible structural chemistry of the elements E108 to E112 is suggested. Finally the effects of solvation on ions of the actinide and superheavy elements have been studied.

Biological Photonic Crystals: Diatoms

The aim of this work was to produce a variety of fluorescent diatom cell wall material as a basis for spectroscopic investigations of the influence of the photonic structure on the emission of an incorporated laser dye. This goal was achieved by the method of in vivo-fluorochromation, in which the fluorescence dyes are incorporated by the diatom cells during cell wall formation. Several fluorescent dyes (mostly rhodamines) known as strong laser dyes, were tested for a possible application within this method. The results of this work show that half of the tested rhodamines can be applied for an in vivo-fluorochromation of diatom cells. For a successful incorporation into the diatom cell wall, a relatively low toxicity to diatom cells is necessary. Replacement of the carbon acid function at the carboxyphenyl ring of the rhodamine by a methyl or ethylester function showed to convert a rhodamine of relatively low toxicity to a rhodamine leading to severe lethal effects within the cells. In contrast to their carbon acid forms, which posses a net neutral charge of the molecule, rhodamine esters exhibit a net positive charge. The enhanced toxicological effects seem to be due to an increased accumulation of positive charged rhodamines within the mitochondria, an increased hydrophobicity due to the attachment of an alkyl substituent, an increased retention time of the dyes within the mitochondria and a therefore stronger negative effect on the mitochondrial membrane bound energy processes of the diatom cell. Therefore rhodamines with a positive net charge deriving from a methyl or ethylester function at the carboxy phenyl ring instead of a carbon acid substituent showed not to be suitable for long-term investigations/ biomineralization studies of diatoms. Investigations performed on diatom species of different orders showed that rhodamine 19, rhodamine B, and rhodamine 101 can presumably be successfully applied for in vivo-fluorochromation to all diatom species. The results obtained here can help to find further laser dyes for an in vivo-fluorochromation of diatom cells and therefore for the production of fluorescent nanostructural elements for a detailed optical investigation of the diatom cell wall. First optical measurements performed on in vivo-fluorochromated cell walls did not give any hints concerning the photonic structure of the diatom cell. Cell wall parts with different nanostructural elements were investigated and by comparison of the obtained fluorescence emission spectra, no special features that might derive from photonic structural effects could be observed. Results concerning the concentration dependent shifts within the emission spectra, as well as the decrease of fluorescence intensity of the stained cell wall structures with increasing dye concentration, depict that several effects occurring by interaction of the molecules within the cell wall can have an impact on the technical application of fluorescent cell walls. It can be assumed that the investigation of the photonic crystal behaviour and the possibility to achieve laser action within the diatom cell wall can be hampered by molecular interactions. The results give hints to prevent such obstacles. Comparison of the recent findings and state of the art of in vivo-fluorochromation of diatom cell wall material, make clear that the here presented results are of importance and can offer a considerable contribution to the development and establishment of new biosilification markers, for diatoms as well as for other biosilifying organisms.

Model Calculations and Implementation of Filters and Hybrid Green VCSELs based on Optical Thin Film Stacks

This work introduced the novel conception of complex coupled hybrid VCSELs for the first time. Alternating organic and inorganic layers in the lasers provide periodic variation of refractive index and optical gain, which enable single mode operation and low threshold of the VCSELs. Model calculations revealed great reduction of the lasing threshold with factors over 30, in comparison with the existing micro-cavity lasers. Tunable green VCSEL has been also designed, implemented and analyzed taking advantage of the broad photoluminescence spectra of the organics. Free standing optical thin films without compressive stress are technologically implemented. Multiple membrane stacks with air gap in between have been fabricated for the implementation of complex coupled VCSEL structures. Complex coupled hybrid VCSEL is a very promising approach to fill the gaps in the green spectral range of the semiconductor lasers.

Theoretical study of magnetism, structure and chemical order in transition-metal alloy clusters

Research on transition-metal nanoalloy clusters composed of a few atoms is fascinating by their unusual properties due to the interplay among the structure, chemical order and magnetism. Such nanoalloy clusters, can be used to construct nanometer devices for technological applications by manipulating their remarkable magnetic, chemical and optical properties. Determining the nanoscopic features exhibited by the magnetic alloy clusters signifies the need for a systematic global and local exploration of their potential-energy surface in order to identify all the relevant energetically low-lying magnetic isomers. In this thesis the sampling of the potential-energy surface has been performed by employing the state-of-the-art spin-polarized density-functional theory in combination with graph theory and the basin-hopping global optimization techniques. This combination is vital for a quantitative analysis of the quantum mechanical energetics. The first approach, i.e., spin-polarized density-functional theory together with the graph theory method, is applied to study the Fe$_m$Rh$_n$ and Co$_m$Pd$_n$ clusters having $N = m+n \leq 8$ atoms. We carried out a thorough and systematic sampling of the potential-energy surface by taking into account all possible initial cluster topologies, all different distributions of the two kinds of atoms within the cluster, the entire concentration range between the pure limits, and different initial magnetic configurations such as ferro- and anti-ferromagnetic coupling. The remarkable magnetic properties shown by FeRh and CoPd nanoclusters are attributed to the extremely reduced coordination number together with the charge transfer from 3$d$ to 4$d$ elements. The second approach, i.e., spin-polarized density-functional theory together with the basin-hopping method is applied to study the small Fe$_6$, Fe$_3$Rh$_3$ and Rh$_6$ and the larger Fe$_{13}$, Fe$_6$Rh$_7$ and Rh$_{13}$ clusters as illustrative benchmark systems. This method is able to identify the true ground-state structures of Fe$_6$ and Fe$_3$Rh$_3$ which were not obtained by using the first approach. However, both approaches predict a similar cluster for the ground-state of Rh$_6$. Moreover, the computational time taken by this approach is found to be significantly lower than the first approach. The ground-state structure of Fe$_{13}$ cluster is found to be an icosahedral structure, whereas Rh$_{13}$ and Fe$_6$Rh$_7$ isomers relax into cage-like and layered-like structures, respectively. All the clusters display a remarkable variety of structural and magnetic behaviors. It is observed that the isomers having similar shape with small distortion with respect to each other can exhibit quite different magnetic moments. This has been interpreted as a probable artifact of spin-rotational symmetry breaking introduced by the spin-polarized GGA. The possibility of combining the spin-polarized density-functional theory with some other global optimization techniques such as minima-hopping method could be the next step in this direction. This combination is expected to be an ideal sampling approach having the advantage of avoiding efficiently the search over irrelevant regions of the potential energy surface.

MEMS-based Tunable Optical Filter Arrays for Nano-Spectrometer in the Visible Spectral Range

Optische Spektrometer sind bekannte Instrumente für viele Anwendungen in Life Sciences, Produktion und Technik aufgrund ihrer guten Selektivität und Sensitivität zusammen mit ihren berührungslosen Messverfahren. MEMS (engl. Micro-electro-mechanical system)-basierten Spektrometer werden als disruptive Technologie betrachtet, in der miniaturisierte Fabry-Pérot Filter als sehr attraktiv für die optische Kommunikation und 'Smart Personal Environments', einschließlich des medizinischen Anwendungen, zu nennen sind. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist, durchstimmbare Filter-Arrays mit kostengünstigen Technologien herzustellen. Materialien und technologische Prozesse, die für die Herstellung der Filter-Arrays benötigt werden, wurden untersucht. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit, wurden durchstimmbare Fabry Pérot Filter-Arrays für den sichtbaren Spektralbereich untersucht, die als Nano-Spektrometer eingesetzt werden. Darüber hinaus wurde ein Modell der numerischen Simulation vorgestellt, die zur Ermittlung eines optimales geometrisches Designs verwendet wurde, wobei sich das Hauptaugenmerk der Untersuchung auf die Durchbiegung der Filtermembranen aufgrund der mechanischen Verspannung der Schichten richtet. Die geometrische Form und Größe der Filtermembranen zusammen mit der Verbindungsbrücken sind von entscheidender Bedeutung, da sie die Durchbiegung beeinflussen. Lange und schmale Verbindungsbrücken führen zur stärkeren Durchbiegung der Filtermembranen. Dieser Effekt wurde auch bei der Vergrößerung der Durchmesser der Membran beobachtet. Die Filter mit spiralige (engl. curl-bent) Verbindungsbrücken führten zu geringerer Deformation als die mit geraden oder gebogenen Verbindungsbrücken. Durchstimmbare Si3N4/SiO2 DBR-basierende Filter-Arrays wurden erfolgreich hergestellt. Eine Untersuchung über die UV-NIL Polymere, die als Opferschicht und Haltepfosten-Material der Filter verwendet wurden, wurde durchgeführt. Die Polymere sind kompatibel zu dem PECVD-Verfahren, das für die Spiegel-Herstellung verwendet wird. Die laterale Strukturierung der DBR-Spiegel mittels des RIE (engl. Reactive Ion Etching)-Prozesses sowie der Unterätz-Prozess im Sauerstoffplasma zur Entfernung der Opferschicht und zum Erreichen der Luftspalt-Kavität, wurden durchgeführt. Durchstimmbare Filter-Arrays zeigten einen Abstimmbereich von 70 nm bei angelegten Spannungen von weniger als 20 V. Optimierungen bei der Strukturierung von TiO2/SiO2 DBR-basierenden Filtern konnte erzielt werden. Mit der CCP (engl. Capacitively Coupling Plasma)-RIE, wurde eine Ätzrate von 20 nm/min erreicht, wobei Fotolack als Ätzmaske diente. Mit der ICP (engl. Inductively Coupling Plasma)-RIE, wurden die Ätzrate von mehr als 60 nm/min mit einem Verhältniss der Ar/SF6 Gasflüssen von 10/10 sccm und Fotolack als Ätzmasken erzielt. Eine Ätzrate von 80 bis 90 nm/min wurde erreicht, hier diente ITO als Ätzmaske. Ausgezeichnete geätzte Profile wurden durch den Ätzprozess unter Verwendung von 500 W ICP/300 W RF-Leistung und Ar/SF6 Gasflüsse von 20/10 sccm erreicht. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit ermöglichen die Realisierung eines breiten Spektralbereichs der Filter-Arrays im Nano-Spektrometer.

High-Speed Semiconductor Lasers based on Low-Dimensional Active Materials for Optical Telecommunication

The scope of this work is the fundamental growth, tailoring and characterization of self-organized indium arsenide quantum dots (QDs) and their exploitation as active region for diode lasers emitting in the 1.55 µm range. This wavelength regime is especially interesting for long-haul telecommunications as optical fibers made from silica glass have the lowest optical absorption. Molecular Beam Epitaxy is utilized as fabrication technique for the quantum dots and laser structures. The results presented in this thesis depict the first experimental work for which this reactor was used at the University of Kassel. Most research in the field of self-organized quantum dots has been conducted in the InAs/GaAs material system. It can be seen as the model system of self-organized quantum dots, but is not suitable for the targeted emission wavelength. Light emission from this system at 1.55 µm is hard to accomplish. To stay as close as possible to existing processing technology, the In(AlGa)As/InP (100) material system is deployed. Depending on the epitaxial growth technique and growth parameters this system has the drawback of producing a wide range of nano species besides quantum dots. Best known are the elongated quantum dashes (QDash). Such structures are preferentially formed, if InAs is deposited on InP. This is related to the low lattice-mismatch of 3.2 %, which is less than half of the value in the InAs/GaAs system. The task of creating round-shaped and uniform QDs is rendered more complex considering exchange effects of arsenic and phosphorus as well as anisotropic effects on the surface that do not need to be dealt with in the InAs/GaAs case. While QDash structures haven been studied fundamentally as well as in laser structures, they do not represent the theoretical ideal case of a zero-dimensional material. Creating round-shaped quantum dots on the InP(100) substrate remains a challenging task. Details of the self-organization process are still unknown and the formation of the QDs is not fully understood yet. In the course of the experimental work a novel growth concept was discovered and analyzed that eases the fabrication of QDs. It is based on different crystal growth and ad-atom diffusion processes under supply of different modifications of the arsenic atmosphere in the MBE reactor. The reactor is equipped with special valved cracking effusion cells for arsenic and phosphorus. It represents an all-solid source configuration that does not rely on toxic gas supply. The cracking effusion cell are able to create different species of arsenic and phosphorus. This constitutes the basis of the growth concept. With this method round-shaped QD ensembles with superior optical properties and record-low photoluminescence linewidth were achieved. By systematically varying the growth parameters and working out a detailed analysis of the experimental data a range of parameter values, for which the formation of QDs is favored, was found. A qualitative explanation of the formation characteristics based on the surface migration of In ad-atoms is developed. Such tailored QDs are finally implemented as active region in a self-designed diode laser structure. A basic characterization of the static and temperature-dependent properties was carried out. The QD lasers exceed a reference quantum well laser in terms of inversion conditions and temperature-dependent characteristics. Pulsed output powers of several hundred milli watt were measured at room temperature. In particular, the lasers feature a high modal gain that even allowed cw-emission at room temperature of a processed ridge wave guide device as short as 340 µm with output powers of 17 mW. Modulation experiments performed at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) showed a complex behavior of the QDs in the laser cavity. Despite the fact that the laser structure is not fully optimized for a high-speed device, data transmission capabilities of 15 Gb/s combined with low noise were achieved. To the best of the author`s knowledge, this renders the lasers the fastest QD devices operating at 1.55 µm. The thesis starts with an introductory chapter that pronounces the advantages of optical fiber communication in general. Chapter 2 will introduce the fundamental knowledge that is necessary to understand the importance of the active region`s dimensions for the performance of a diode laser. The novel growth concept and its experimental analysis are presented in chapter 3. Chapter 4 finally contains the work on diode lasers.

Organische Mikro- und Nanodrähte auf Basis von Perylendiimiden

Diese Arbeit thematisiert die optimierte Darstellung von organischen Mikro- und Nanodrähten, Untersuchungen bezüglich deren molekularen Aufbaus und die anwendungsorientierte Charakterisierung der Eigenschaften. Mikro- und Nanodrähte haben in den letzten Jahren im Zuge der Miniaturisierung von Technologien an weitreichendem Interesse gewonnen. Solche eindimensionalen Strukturen, deren Durchmesser im Bereich weniger zehn Nanometer bis zu einigen wenigen Mikrometern liegt, sind Gegenstand intensiver Forschung. Neben anorganischen Ausgangssubstanzen zur Erzeugung von Mikro- und Nanodrähten haben organische Funktionsmaterialien aufgrund ihrer einfachen und kostengünstigen Verarbeitbarkeit sowie ihrer interessanten elektrischen und optischen Eigenschaften an Bedeutung gewonnen. Eine wichtige Materialklasse ist in diesem Zusammenhang die Verbindungsklasse der n-halbleitenden Perylentetracarbonsäurediimide (kurz Perylendiimide). Dem erfolgreichen Einsatz von eindimensionalen Strukturen als miniaturisierte Bausteine geht die optimierte und kontrollierte Herstellung voraus. Im Rahmen der Doktorarbeit wurde die neue Methode der Drahterzeugung „Trocknen unter Lösungsmittelatmosphäre“ entwickelt, welche auf Selbstassemblierung der Substanzmoleküle aus Lösung basiert und unter dem Einfluss von Lösungsmitteldampf direkt auf einem vorgegebenen Substrat stattfindet. Im Gegensatz zu literaturbekannten Methoden ist kein Transfer der Drähte aus einem Reaktionsgefäß nötig und damit verbundene Beschädigungen der Strukturen werden vermieden. Während herkömmliche Methoden in einer unkontrolliert großen Menge von ineinander verwundenen Drähten resultieren, erlaubt die substratbasierte Technik die Bildung voneinander separierter Einzelfasern und somit beispielsweise den Einsatz in Einzelstrukturbauteilen. Die erhaltenen Fasern sind morphologisch sehr gleichmäßig und weisen bei Längen von bis zu 5 mm bemerkenswert hohe Aspektverhältnisse von über 10000 auf. Darüber hinaus kann durch das direkte Drahtwachstum auf dem Substrat über den Einsatz von vorstrukturierten Oberflächen und Wachstumsmasken gerichtetes, lokal beschränktes Drahtwachstum erzielt werden und damit aktive Kontrolle auf Richtung und Wachstumsbereich der makroskopisch nicht handhabbaren Objekte ausgeübt werden. Um das Drahtwachstum auch hinsichtlich der Materialauswahl, d. h. der eingesetzten Ausgangsmaterialien zur Drahterzeugung und somit der resultierenden Eigenschaften der gebildeten Strukturen aktiv kontrollieren zu können, wird der Einfluss unterschiedlicher Parameter auf die Morphologie der Selbstassemblierungsprodukte am Beispiel unterschiedlicher Derivate betrachtet. So stellt sich zum einen die Art der eingesetzten Lösungsmittel in flüssiger und gasförmiger Phase beim Trocknen unter Lösungsmittelatmosphäre als wichtiger Faktor heraus. Beide Lösungsmittel dienen als Interaktionspartner für die Moleküle des funktionellen Drahtmaterials im Selbstassemblierungsprozess. Spezifische Wechselwirkungen zwischen Perylendiimid-Molekülen untereinander und mit Lösungsmittel-Molekülen bestimmen dabei die äußere Form der erhaltenen Strukturen. Ein weiterer wichtiger Faktor ist die Molekülstruktur des verwendeten funktionellen Perylendiimids. Es wird der Einfluss einer Bay-Substitution bzw. einer unsymmetrischen Imid-Substitution auf die Morphologie der erhaltenen Strukturen herausgestellt. Für das detaillierte Verständnis des Zusammenhanges zwischen Molekülstruktur und nötigen Wachstumsbedingungen für die Bildung von eindimensionalen Strukturen zum einen, aber auch die resultierenden Eigenschaften der erhaltenen Aggregationsprodukte zum anderen, sind Informationen über den molekularen Aufbau von großer Bedeutung. Im Rahmen der Doktorarbeit konnte ein molekular hoch geordneter, kristalliner Aufbau der Drähte nachgewiesen werden. Durch Kombination unterschiedlicher Messmethoden ist es gelungen, die molekulare Anordnung in Strukturen aus einem Spirobifluoren-substituierten Derivat in Form einer verkippten Molekülstapelung entlang der Drahtlängsrichtung zu bestimmen. Um mögliche Anwendungsbereiche der erzeugten Drähte aufzuzeigen, wurden diese hinsichtlich ihrer elektrischen und optischen Eigenschaften analysiert. Neben dem potentiellen Einsatz im Bereich von Filteranwendungen und Sensoren, sind vor allem die halbleitenden und optisch wellenleitenden Eigenschaften hervorzuheben. Es konnten organische Transistoren auf der Basis von Einzeldrähten mit im Vergleich zu Dünnschichtbauteilen erhöhten Ladungsträgerbeweglichkeiten präpariert werden. Darüber hinaus wurden die erzeugten eindimensionalen Strukturen als aktive optische Wellenleiter charakterisiert. Die im Rahmen der Dissertation erarbeiteten Kenntnisse bezüglich der Bildung von eindimensionalen Strukturen durch Selbstassemblierung, des Drahtaufbaus und erster anwendungsorientierter Charakterisierung stellen eine Basis zur Weiterentwicklung solcher miniaturisierter Bausteine für unterschiedlichste Anwendungen dar. Die neu entwickelte Methode des Trocknens unter Lösungsmittelatmosphäre ist nicht auf den Einsatz von Perylendiimiden beschränkt, sondern kann auf andere Substanzklassen ausgeweitet werden. Dies eröffnet breite Möglichkeiten der Materialauswahl und somit der Einsatzmöglichkeiten der erhaltenen Strukturen.

Optical Characterization of Organic Gain Materials for UV-emitting Hybrid Complex Coupled VCSELs

In this thesis, optical gain measurement setup based on variable stripe length method is designed, implemented and improved. The setup is characterized using inorganic and organic samples. The optical gain of spiro-quaterphenyl is calculated and compared with measurements from the setup. Films with various thicknesses of spiro-quaterphenyl, methoxy-spiro-quaterphenyl and phenoxy-spiro-quaterphenyl are deposited by a vacuum vapor deposition technique forming asymmetric slab waveguides. The optical properties, laser emission threshold, optical gain and loss coefficient for these films are measured. Additionally, the photodegradation during pumping process is investigated.

1.55 µm High-Speed QDs Lasers for Optical Telecommunication Applications

In this work investigation of the QDs formation and the fabrication of QD based semiconductor lasers for telecom applications are presented. InAs QDs grown on AlGaInAs lattice matched to InP substrates are used to fabricate lasers operating at 1.55 µm, which is the central wavelength for far distance data transmission. This wavelength is used due to its minimum attenuation in standard glass fibers. The incorporation of QDs in this material system is more complicated in comparison to InAs QDs in the GaAs system. Due to smaller lattice mismatch the formation of circular QDs, elongated QDs and quantum wires is possible. The influence of the different growth conditions, such as the growth temperature, beam equivalent pressure, amount of deposited material on the formation of the QDs is investigated. It was already demonstrated that the formation process of QDs can be changed by the arsenic species. The formation of more round shaped QDs was observed during the growth of QDs with As2, while for As4 dash-like QDs. In this work only As2 was used for the QD growth. Different growth parameters were investigated to optimize the optical properties, like photoluminescence linewidth, and to implement those QD ensembles into laser structures as active medium. By the implementation of those QDs into laser structures a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 30 meV was achieved. Another part of the research includes the investigation of the influence of the layer design of lasers on its lasing properties. QD lasers were demonstrated with a modal gain of more than 10 cm-1 per QD layer. Another achievement is the large signal modulation with a maximum data rate of 15 Gbit/s. The implementation of optimized QDs in the laser structure allows to increase the modal gain up to 12 cm-1 per QD layer. A reduction of the waveguide layer thickness leads to a shorter transport time of the carriers into the active region and as a result a data rate up to 22 Gbit/s was achieved, which is so far the highest digital modulation rate obtained with any 1.55 µm QD laser. The implementation of etch stop layers into the laser structure provide the possibility to fabricate feedback gratings with well defined geometries for the realization of DFB lasers. These DFB lasers were fabricated by using a combination of dry and wet etching. Single mode operation at 1.55 µm with a high side mode suppression ratio of 50 dB was achieved.

Optimization of the Mechanical and Optical Properties of Tunable Optical Sensor Arrays (TOSA) for a Nanospectrometer in the Visible and Near Infrared Spectral Range

Tunable Optical Sensor Arrays (TOSA) based on Fabry-Pérot (FP) filters, for high quality spectroscopic applications in the visible and near infrared spectral range are investigated within this work. The optical performance of the FP filters is improved by using ion beam sputtered niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) as mirrors. Due to their high refractive index contrast, only a few alternating pairs of Nb2O5 and SiO2 films can achieve DBRs with high reflectivity in a wide spectral range, while ion beam sputter deposition (IBSD) is utilized due to its ability to produce films with high optical purity. However, IBSD films are highly stressed; resulting in stress induced mirror curvature and suspension bending in the free standing filter suspensions of the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) FP filters. Stress induced mirror curvature results in filter transmission line degradation, while suspension bending results in high required filter tuning voltages. Moreover, stress induced suspension bending results in higher order mode filter operation which in turn degrades the optical resolution of the filter. Therefore, the deposition process is optimized to achieve both near zero absorption and low residual stress. High energy ion bombardment during film deposition is utilized to reduce the film density, and hence the film compressive stress. Utilizing this technique, the compressive stress of Nb2O5 is reduced by ~43%, while that for SiO2 is reduced by ~40%. Filters fabricated with stress reduced films show curvatures as low as 100 nm for 70 μm mirrors. To reduce the stress induced bending in the free standing filter suspensions, a stress optimized multi-layer suspension design is presented; with a tensile stressed metal sandwiched between two compressively stressed films. The stress in Physical Vapor Deposited (PVD) metals is therefore characterized for use as filter top-electrode and stress compensating layer. Surface micromachining is used to fabricate tunable FP filters in the visible spectral range using the above mentioned design. The upward bending of the suspensions is reduced from several micrometers to less than 100 nm and 250 nm for two different suspension layer combinations. Mechanical tuning of up to 188 nm is obtained by applying 40 V of actuation voltage. Alternatively, a filter line with transmission of 65.5%, Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of 10.5 nm and a stopband of 170 nm (at an output wavelength of 594 nm) is achieved. Numerical model simulations are also performed to study the validity of the stress optimized suspension design for the near infrared spectral range, wherein membrane displacement and suspension deformation due to material residual stress is studied. Two bandpass filter designs based on quarter-wave and non-quarter-wave layers are presented as integral components of the TOSA. With a filter passband of 135 nm and a broad stopband of over 650 nm, high average filter transmission of 88% is achieved inside the passband, while maximum filter transmission of less than 1.6% outside the passband is achieved.

Optical amplification and stability of spiroquaterphenyl compounds and blends

In this contribution, we present a systematic investigation on a series of spiroquaterphenyl compounds optimised for solid state lasing in the near ultraviolet (UV). Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) thresholds in the order of 1 μJ/cm2 are obtained in neat (undiluted) films and blends, with emission peaks at 390 1 nm for unsubstituted and meta-substituted quaterphenyls and 400 4 nm for para-ether substituted quaterphenyls. Mixing with a transparent matrix retains a low threshold, shifts the emission to lower wavelengths and allows a better access to modes having their intensity maximum deeper in the film. Chemical design and blending allow an independent tuning of optical and processing properties such as the glass transition.

Optical Antennas for Biosensing Applications

The aim of the thesis is to theoretically investigate optical/plasmonic antennas for biosensing applications. The full 3-D numerical electromagnetic simulations have been performed by using finite integration technique (FIT). The electromagnetic properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) based devices are studied for sensing purpose. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors offer high refractive index sensitivity at a fixed wavelength but are not enough for the detection of low concentrations of molecules. It has been demonstrated that the sensitivity of SPR sensors can be increased by employing the transverse magneto-optic Kerr effect (TMOKE) in combination with SPPs. The sensor based on the phenomena of TMOKE and SPPs are known as magneto-optic SPR (MOSPR) sensors. The optimized MOSPR sensor is analyzed which provides 8 times higher sensitivity than the SPR sensor, which will be able to detect lower concentration of molecules. But, the range of the refractive index detection is limited, due to the rapid decay of the amplitude of the MOSPR-signal with the increase of the refractive indices. Whereas, LSPs based sensors can detect lower concentrations of molecules, but their sensitivity is small at a fixed wavelength. Therefore, another device configuration known as perfect plasmonic absorber (PPA) is investigated which is based on the phenomena of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide. The PPA consists of a periodic array of gold nanoparticles and a thick gold film separated by a dielectric spacer. The electromagnetic modes of the PPA system are analyzed for sensing purpose. The second order mode of the PPA at a fixed wavelength has been proposed for the first time for biosensing applications. The PPA based sensor combines the properties of the LSPR sensor and the SPR sensor, for example, it illustrates increment in sensitivity of the LSPR sensor comparable to the SPR and can detect lower concentration of molecules due to the presence of nanoparticles.

High Optical Quality Nanoporous GaN Prepared by Photoelectrochemical Etching

Nanoporous GaN films are prepared by UV assisted electrochemical etching using HF solution as an electrolyte. To assess the optical quality and morphology of these nanoporous films, micro-photoluminescence (PL), micro-Raman scattering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques have been employed. SEM and AFM measurements revealed an average pore size of about 85-90 nm with a transverse dimension of 70-75 nm. As compared to the as-grown GaN film, the porous layer exhibits a substantial photoluminescence intensity enhancement with a partial relaxation of compressive stress. Such a stress relaxation is further confirmed by the red shifted E₂(TO) phonon peak in the Raman spectrum of porous GaN.