Room-temperature emission at telecom wavelengths from silicon photonic crystal nanocavities

Strongly enhanced light emission at wavelengths between 1.3 and 1.6 μm is reported at room temperature in silicon photonic crystal (PhC) nanocavities with optimized out-coupling efficiency. Sharp peaks corresponding to the resonant modes of PhC nanocavities dominate the broad sub-bandgap emission from optically active defects in the crystalline Si membrane. We measure a 300-fold enhancement of the emission from the PhC nanocavity due to a combination of far-field enhancement and the Purcell effect. The cavity enhanced emission has a very weak temperature dependence, namely less than a factor of 2 reduction between 10 K and room temperature, which makes this approach suitable for the realization of efficient light sources as well as providing a quick and easy tool for the broadband optical characterization of silicon-on-insulator nanostructures. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.

Application of fast Pade approximation in simulating photonic crystal nanocavities by FDTD technology

The exact calculation of mode quality factor Q is a key problem in the design of high-Q photonic crystal nanocavity. On the basis of further investigation on conventional Pade approximation, FDM and DFT, Pade approximation with Baker's algorithm is enhanced through introducing multiple frequency search and parabola interpolation. Though Pade approximation is a nonlinear signal processing method and only short time sequence is needed, we find the different length of sequence requirements for 2D and 3D FDTD, which is very important to obtain convergent and accurate results. By using the modified Pade approximation method and 3D FDTD, the 2D slab photonic crystal nanocavity is analyzed and high-Q multimode can be solved quickly instead of large range high-resolution scanning. Monitor position has also been investigated. These results are very helpful to the design of photonic crystal nanocavity devices. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization and analysis of two-dimensional GaAs-based photonic crystal nanocavities at room temperature

This paper describes the design and fabrication process of a two-dimensional GaAs-based photonic crystal nanocavity and analyzes the optical characterization of cavity modes at room temperature. Single InAs/InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) layer was embedded in a GaAs waveguide layer grown on an Al0.7Ga0.3As layer and GaAs substrate. The patterning of the structure and the membrane release were achieved by using electron-beam lithography, reaction ion etching, inductively coupled plasma etching and selective wet etching. The micro-luminescence spectrum is recorded from the fabricated nanocavities, and it is found that some high-order cavity modes are clearly observed besides the lowest-order resonant mode is exhibited in spite of much high rate of nonradiative recombination. The variance of resonant modes is also discussed as a function of r/a ratio and will be used in techniques aimed to improve the probability of achieving spectral coupling of a single QD to a cavity mode.

Fabrication and luminescence characterization of two-dimensional GaAs-based photonic crystal nanocavities

This paper describes the design and fabrication process of a two-dimensional GaAs-based photonic crystal nanocavity with InAs quantum dots (QDs) emitters and analyzes the optical characteristics of cavity modes at room temperature. The micro-luminescence spectrum recorded from the nanocavities exhibits a narrow optical transition at the lowest order resonance wavelength of about 1137 nm with about 1 nm emission linewidth. In addition, the spectra of photonic crystal nanocavities processed under different etching conditions show that the verticality of air hole sidewall is an important factor determing the luminescence characteristics of photonic crystal nanocaivties. Finally,,the variance of resonant modes is also discussed as a function of r/a ratio and will be used in techniques aimed at improving the probability of achieving spectral coupling of a single QD to a cavity mode.

Light generation in silicon photonic crystal cavities

Far-field optimized photonic crystal nanocavities are used to strongly increase light generation from crystalline silicon. Low-power continuous-wave harmonic generation as well as efficient room temperature light-emission from optically-active defects are demonstrated in these devices. © 2011 IEEE.

Nonlinear optics in Silicon photonic crystal cavities

Silicon is known to be a very good material for the realization of high-Q, low-volume photonic cavities, but at the same it is usually considered as a poor material for nonlinear optical functionalities like second-harmonic generation, because its second-order nonlinear susceptibility vanishes in the dipole approximation. In this work we demonstrate that nonlinear optical effects in silicon nanocavities can be strongly enhanced and even become macroscopically observable. We employ photonic crystal nanocavities in silicon membranes that are optimized simultaneously for high quality factor and efficient coupling to an incoming beam in the far field. Using a low-power, continuous-wave laser at telecommunication wavelengths as a pump beam, we demonstrate simultaneous generation of second- and third harmonics in the visible region, which can be observed with a simple camera. The results are in good agreement with a theoretical model that treats third-harmonic generation as a bulk effect in the cavity region, and second-harmonic generation as a surface effect arising from the vertical hole sidewalls. Optical bistability is also observed in the silicon nanocavities and its physical mechanisms (optical, due to two-photon generation of free carriers, as well as thermal) are investigated. © 2011 IEEE.

High Polarization Single Mode Photonic Crystal Microlaser

Generally, dipole mode is a doubly degenerate mode. Theoretical calculations have indicated that the single dipole mode of two-dimensional photonic crystal single point defect cavity shows high polarization property. We present a structure with elongated lattice, which only supports a single y-dipole mode. With this structure we can eliminate the degeneracy, control the lasing action of the cavity and demonstrate the high polarization property of the single dipole mode. In our experiment, the polarization extinction ratio of the y-dipole mode is as high as 51 1.

Analysis of Nonlinear Optical Properties of Photonic Crystal Beam-splitters

The paper analyses electromagnetic wave propagation through nonlinear photonic crystal beam-splitters. Different lattice configurations of Y-junction beam-splitters are simulated and propagation properties are investigated with introducing nonlinearity with varying the rod size in crystal lattice. It is seen that nonlinear photonic crystal shows a considerable band-gap even at low refractive contrast. The division of power in both arms of beam-splitters can be controlled by varying the nonlinearity.

Novel wideband active waveguide photonic crystal polarisation selector

We have designed and fabricated a broadband and compact polarisation selector using a photonic crystal at the junction of two intersecting active waveguides. The crystal shows >8dB polarisation selectivity over a 70nm range. © 2003 Optical Society of America.