Photonic crystal cavities and integrated optical devices

This paper gives a brief introduction to our recent works on photonic crystal (PhC) cavities and related integrated optical structures and devices. Theoretical background and numerical methods for simulation of PhC cavities are first presented. Based on the theoretical basis, two relevant quantities, the cavity mode volume and the quality factor are discussed. Then the methods of fabrication and characterization of silicon PhC slab cavities are introduced. Several types of PhC cavities are presented, such as the usual L3 missing-hole cavity, the new concept waveguide-like parallel-hetero cavity, and the low-index nanobeam cavity. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of cavity are discussed. This will help the readers to decide which type of PhC cavities to use in particular applications. Furthermore, several integrated optical devices based on PhC cavities, such as optical filters, channel-drop filters, optical switches, and optical logic gates are described in both the working principle and operation characteristics. These devices designed and realized in our group demonstrate the wide range of applications of PhC cavities and offer possible solutions to some integrated optical problems.     

Modelling of a two-dimensional photonic crystal as an antireflection coating for optoelectronic applications

In article a two-dimensional photonic crystal (PhC) is considered and modelled as a new generation antireflection coating for optoelectronic devices. Traditional antireflective coatings (ARCs) reduce the reflection of the radiation only – the new generation of antireflective coatings should affect the distribution of the radiation also. Such functionality can be provided by the two-dimensional PhC which reduce the reflection and scatter transmitted light. Prior to the fabrication, the PhCs should be designed and analysed. Results of the analysis should provide quantitative means for choice of materials and design solutions. In work, we analyse the electromagnetic field distribution as Poynting vectors inside the materials of optoelectronic devices, in order to investigate the possibility of improving the construction of future optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, we calculate the reflection and transmission of that ARC. It’s a complex optic analysis of new generation of ARC. The numerical analysis has been performed with the FDTD method in Lumerical Software. In work, we consider the two-dimensional photonic crystal on the top surface of optoelectronic structures. We compared the results with the traditional ARC from these same parameters as PhC: thickness and material. As an example, we presented the application of modelled, photonic crystal, thin-film, GaAs solar cells with PhC on top. The efficiency of this solar cell, using the photonic crystal, was improved by 6.3% over the efficiency of this same solar cell without PhC. Thus, our research strongly suggests that the unique properties of the photonic crystal could be used as a new generation of ARC.     

Symmetrically glass-clad photonic crystal nanocavities with ultrahigh quality factors

We design and fabricate ultra-high-quality (Q) photonic nanocavities in a symmetrically glass-clad silicon (Si) two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PhC) structure. We theoretically investigate the dependence of the refractive index of the glass on the Q factors for asymmetric and symmetric structures. We show that the index-symmetric distribution of the glass is a critical factor to realize ultrahigh Q factors for glass-clad 2D PhC structures. We fabricate symmetrically glass-clad Si PhC nanocavities and achieve a record Q factor of 1×10(6), comparable with the highest Q factors of nanocavities in air-bridge structures.     

Numerical modelling of optical trapping in hollow photonic crystal cavities

Photonic crystal (PhC) devices owing to their strong confinement of electromagnetic energy are considered to be excellent candidates for on chip optical trapping of dielectric or biological particles in the nanometer range. In this work, we study and present hollow PhC cavities and characterize them for their trapping stiffness, trapping stability and variation of resonance wavelength due to the presence of various sized single particles in the cavity.     

基于二维六方氮化硼材料的光子晶体非对称传输异质结构设计

二维六方氮化硼(hexagonal boron nitride,hBN)材料在产生光学稳定的超亮量子单光子光源领域有着潜在应用,有望用于量子计算和信息处理平台,已成为研究热点.而光学非对称传输设备是集成量子计算芯片中的关键器件之一.本文从理论上提出了一种基于hBN材料光子晶体异质结构的纳米光子学非对称光传输器件.运用平面波展开法研究了光子晶体的能带结构与等频特性,从理论上分析了hBN异质结构中可见光波非对称传输的可行性.同时,采用时域有限差分方法研究了可见光波段异质结构的晶格常数和半径对透射光谱的影响.研究结果显示,该结构实现了在610—684 nm波长范围内TE偏振光的非对称传输,在652 nm波长处正向透射率达到0.65,反向透射率为0.006,非对称传输透射对比度高达0.98.本文提出的结构模型为基于hBN的新型纳米光子器件设计提供了新的可能性,可用于不同功能光学器件的集成设计.     

Fabrication and characterization of high-quality-factor silicon nitride nanobeam cavities

We present the fabrication and characterization of high-quality-factor (Q) Si3N4 photonic crystal nanobeam cavities at visible wavelengths for coupling to nitrogen-vacancy centers in a cavity QED system. Confocal microphotoluminescence analysis of the nanobeam cavities demonstrates quality factors up to Q ~ 55,000, which are limited by the resolution of our grating spectrometer. This is a 1-order-of-magnitude improvement over previous SiNx cavities at this important wavelength range. We also demonstrate coarse tuning of cavity resonances across 600-700?nm by lithographically scaling the size of fabricated devices.     

Ultrafast photonic crystal optical switching

Photonic crystal, a novel and artificial photonic material with periodic dielectric distribution, possesses photonic bandgap and can control the propagation states of photons. Photonic crystal has been considered to be a promising candidate for the future integrated photonic devices. The properties and the fabrication method of photonic crystal are expounded. The progresses of the study of ultrafast photonic crystal optical switching are discussed in detail.     

Chalcogenide glass photonic crystals

All-optical switching devices are based on a material possessing a nonlinear optical response, enabling light to control light, and are enjoying renewed interest. Photonic crystals are a promising platform for realizing compact all-optical switches operating at very low power and integrated on an optical integrated circuit. In this review, we show that by making photonic crystals from a highly nonlinear chalcogenide glass, we have the potential to integrate a variety of active devices into a photonic chip. We describe the fabrication and testing of two-dimensional Ge₃₃As₁₂ Se₅₅ chalcogenide glass photonic crystal membrane devices (waveguides and microcavities). We then demonstrate the ability to post-tune the devices using the material photosensitivity. In one proposal we hope to introduce a double-heterostructure microcavity using the photosensitivity alone.     

The study of electro-optical sensor based on slotted photonic crystal waveguide

A compact and sensitive electro-optical sensor based on slotted photonic crystal waveguide (S-PhCW) is demonstrated. The electro-optical sensor can be realized in photonic crystal (PhC) slabs of silicon in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI). Nonlinear optical polymer is used as infiltration. By applying three-dimensional finite difference time domain (3D-FDTD), the sensitivity and quality factor of electro-optical sensor with different slotted waveguide width are calculated. In addition, sensitivity and the optical properties such as transmission spectrum and field distributions are compared between electro-optical sensor based on line defect photonic crystal waveguide (W1-PhCW) and that based on slotted photonic crystal waveguide (S-PhCW). Simulation results demonstrate that, compared with electro-optical sensor based on line defect photonic crystal waveguide, the sensitivity and quality factor is improved by 30 times and 6.6 times respectively in sensor based on slotted photonic crystal waveguide. Besides, the proposed PhC sensor devices have the advantage of a compact structure with the potential for monolithic integration with optical-to-electrical on-chip conversion and detection.     

二维点缺陷正方光子晶体的微腔结构

通过平面波展开法对由Al₂O₃介质棒在空气背景介质中构成含有点缺陷的二维正方光子晶体微腔结构进行研究,计算得出缺陷态能带以及缺陷态模场分布。缺陷模对应的电磁波波长为470~476nm。对该微腔结构的品质因数的求解,得出缺陷态光谱曲线。在光谱曲线中,随着传输波长的增大,将产生几个峰值,并且在475nm处的波动最为明显,反映出在475nm附近的电磁波段在缺陷处的光强较大。进一步利用全矢量等效折射率法研究该结构缺陷模频率的稳定性,得出等效折射率的变化曲线。从等效折射率变化曲线可以看出,当传输波长达到475nm时,该结构已经达到稳定传输的区域。含缺陷模的二维光子晶体微腔结构在光子晶体发光二极管以及高阈值半导体激光器等方面有着重要的应用价值。     

二维函数光子晶体

光子晶体是由两种或两种以上不同介电常数材料所构成的周期性光学纳米结构.光子晶体结构可分为一维、二维和三维,其中二维光子晶体已成为研究的热点.可调带隙的二维光子晶体可以设计出新型的光学器件,因此,对它的研究具有重要的理论意义和应用价值.本文提出的二维新型函数光子晶体可以实现光子晶体带隙的可调性.所谓二维函数光子晶体,即组成它的介质柱的介电常数是空间坐标的函数,它不同于介电常数为常数的二维常规光子晶体.二维函数光子晶体是通过光折变非线性光学效应或电光效应使介质柱的介电常数成为空间坐标的函数.运用平面波展开法给出了TE和TM波的本征方程,由傅里叶变换得到二维函数光子晶体介电常数ε(r)的傅里叶变换ε(G),其傅里叶变换比常规二维光子晶体的复杂.计算发现当介质柱介电常数为常数时,其傅里叶变换与常规二维光子晶体的相同,因此二维常规光子晶体是二维函数光子晶体的特例.在此基础上具体研究了二维函数光子晶体TE波和TM波的带隙结构,其介质柱介电常数函数形式取为ε(r)=k·r+b,其中k,b为可调的参数.并与二维常规光子晶体TE波和TM波的带隙结构进行了比较,发现二维函数光子晶体与二维常规光子晶体TE波和TM波的带隙结构有明显的区别,二维函数光子晶体的带隙数目、位置以及宽度随参数k的变化而发生改变.从而实现了二维函数光子晶体带隙结构的可调性,为基于二维光子晶体的光学器件的设计提供了新的设计方法和重要的理论依据.     

基于宽度抛物线型和渐变孔径的超高Q低V 一维光子晶体纳米梁腔的设计

设计了基于宽度抛物线型和孔径渐变的一维(1-D)光子晶体 (PhC)纳米梁腔.通过FDTD的计算模拟, 设计的这种纳米梁腔可以实现超高Q值1.8× 10⁷, 同时拥有超小模体积V～ 0.04(λ/n)³, 在继承抛物线型和渐变孔径型纳米梁腔高Q的基础上,进一步降低了模体积V. 我们设计的这种腔具有紧凑, 低制造工艺要求以及高Q/V 值等优点,在未来应有广泛应用.     

Enlargement of complete two-dimensional band gap by using photonic crystal heterostructure

A two-dimensional photonic crystal heterostructure, which consists of two photonic crystals of a square lattice of circular columns with reverse dielectric configurations, is proposed. Photonic band gap properties are calculated using a plane-wave method and the transmission spectra are obtained. After optimization, the relative width of the complete band gap reached 13.8% based on the simple unit-cell shape and crystal lattice. The photonic crystal heterostructure opens up new ways of engineering photonic band gap materials and designing photonic crystal devices.     

Analysis of single-mode condition and high-order modes discrimination in photonic crystal VCSEL

A new technique for analyzing the single-mode condition and mode discrimination of high-order modes in photonic crystal VCSEL is proposed and reported in this paper. The technique proposed is a semi-empirical approach that uses analytical analysis based on experimental data. For that purpose, single- and multimode photonic crystal VCSEL devices are fabricated and characterized for comparison of device performance. The mode width for first- and second-order mode of PhC VCSEL is computed for analyzing the mode behavior. In order to verify the findings, the fabricated single- and multimode devices are analyzed using finite difference frequency domain technique for the purpose of showing the loss as a function of mode order for the PhC VCSEL. The results show close agreement between the computed and experiment findings, justifying the use of the proposed semi-empirical technique for analyzing single-mode condition and of high-order modes discrimination in photonic crystal VCSEL.     

All-optical switch based on photonic crystal microcavity with multi-resonant modes

We present a design of all-optical switches based on one-dimensional photonic crystals (1D PhC) doped with nonlinear optical materials. The 1D PhC switch structure is composed of a PhC cavity sandwiched by two accessional PhC microcavities. The center PhC cavity has two resonant frequencies with nearly the same quality factors (Q), while the accessional PhC cavities have the same resonant frequency, which is equal to one of the resonant frequencies of the center cavity. The two accessional PhC cavities cause reduction of Q value in this resonant frequency and result in different Q values of two modes. We realize all-optical switch effect by selecting pump light wavelength at the low Q mode and probe light wavelength at the other mode. The theoretical simulations by using the finite difference time domain method show that the pump light intensity required to realize optical switch effect in the designed switch is 50 times smaller than that in one-dimensional photonic crystals cavity with only one resonant mode.     

Planar defects in three-dimensional chalcogenide glass photonic crystals

Here we report on the direct laser writing fabrication of Fabry-Perot-type planar microcavities in a three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal (PhC) embedded within a high-refractive nonlinear chalcogenide glass (ChG) film. The fabricated planar microcavities in a nonlinear ChG 3D PhC facilitate the observation of resonant modes inside the stop gap. The experimental results show that the length of the planar cavity can be well controlled by the fabrication power and thus be used to tune the defect modes. The tunability of the observed defect modes is confirmed by the theoretical prediction.     

Efficient terahertz coupling lens based on planar photonic crystals on silicon on insulator

We present a promising coupling device, namely, a terahertz (THz) planar photonic crystal (PhC) lens based on the effective refractive-index contrast between the PhC and the surrounding unpatterned area. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations show a 90% power transfer from a 100-microm silicon waveguide to a 10-microm waveguide, and 45% coupling efficiency is confirmed experimentally. These results demonstrate the utility of the PhC lens as an effective approach to coupling into PhC THz circuits.     

A new fabrication technique for photonic crystals: Nanolithography combined with alternating-layer deposition

We propose two photonic crystal structures that can be created by combining nanolithography with alternating-layer deposition. Photonic band calculations suggest that a drilled alternating-layer photonic crystal combining two-dimensional (2D) alternating multilayers and an array of vertically drilled holes may achieve a full photonic bandgap. In addition, a 3D/2D/3D cross-dimensional photonic crystal, which sandwiches a 2D photonic crystal slab between three-dimensional (3D) alternating-layer photonic crystals, should provide better vertical confinement of light than a conventional index guiding slab. Fabrication techniques based on existing technologies (electron beam lithography, bias sputtering, and low-pressure ECR etching) require very few process steps. Our preliminary fabrication suggests that, by refining these technologies, we will be able to realize photonic crystals.     

Compact design of on-chip silicon photonic crystal AND and XOR logic devices based on the directional leakage

Optical Review - We have provided two compact designs of on-chip silicon photonic crystal (PhC) AND and XOR logic devices, which can provide multiple logic functions through different input...