Structural characterization of opal-based photonic crystals in the visible range

For structural characterization of periodic three-dimensional systems with submicron-scale lattice parameters (optical photonic crystals), is analogous to the use of visible light of x-rays. It is shown that specular reflectance and transmittance spectra of opal do indeed yield information on the lattice period and structural perfection of photonic crystals. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 648–650 (April 1998)     

Silicon and porous silicon mid-infrared photonic crystals

A 3D silicon micromachining method based on proton beam writing combined with electrochemical anodization of p-type silicon enables fabrication of mid-infrared photonic crystals made of silicon and porous silicon. Here, example structures of silicon 1D and 2D photonic crystals are demonstrated. Progress and problems of fabricating 3D photonic crystals made of silicon are discussed. The strategy of fabricating photonic crystals purely made of porous silicon, and the characterization method of all these mid-infrared structures, are discussed. Due to the flexibility of this fabrication method, photonic devices and integrated photonic circuits may be built on a single chip, for which two 2D silicon photonic crystals with one on top of the other are demonstrated.     

Spiral three-dimensional photonic crystals for telecommunications spectral range

Three-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of periodic arrays of spiral columns were fabricated in a commercially available photoresist (SU-8) by a direct laser writing technique. Tailoring the pre- and post-processing conditions for the photoresist has enabled the recording of extended, self-supporting periodic structures with sub-diffraction resolution. Pronounced photonic stop gaps were observed at wavelengths between 1.5 and 1.8 μm, close to the telecommunications region. These structures can be used as accurate and robust templates for subsequent infiltration by materials with higher refractive index. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.70.-a; 42.70.Qs     

Novel optical modulator using silicon photonic crystals

We propose a novel compact and integrated optical modulator, which consists of p–i–n silicon photonic crystals with triangular lattice and a line defect waveguide. The device operation is based on a dynamic shift of the photonic band gap (PBG), which induced change in the silicon refractive index by the free carrier injection. We have numerically analyzed and investigated its light modulation performance by using plane wave expansion (PWE) method and finite-difference time-domain method. With small size, rapid response time and high extinct ratio, the designed optical modulator can be used in photonic integrated circuits.     

Giant third-harmonic in porous silicon photonic crystals and microcavities

A giant enhancement (no less than by 10³) of the optical third-harmonic generation in one-dimensional porous silicon microcavities and photonic crystals was observed experimentally. The enhancement is due to the resonant enhancement of the fundamental field in the cavity mode and the fulfillment of the phase matching condition at the photonic band gap edges of the photonic crystal and in the vicinity of the microcavity mode.     

一维多孔硅光子晶体反射特性及制作的理论研究

在一维光子晶体光学传输特性理论的基础上,运用传输矩阵法推导了一维多孔硅光子晶体的反射特性,并对其反射特性与结构参数的关系进行了分析。给出了采用脉冲电化学阳极腐蚀法制备一维多孔硅光子晶体的制作模型。利用计算机数值模拟的方法给出了各种一维多孔硅光子晶体的典型反射谱。为多孔硅光子晶体的实际应用奠定了理论基础。     

Simulation of surface-modified porous silicon photonic crystals for biosensing applications

In this work realistic biosensing structures based on the integration of porous silicon photonic crystals with polymer coating technology are presented. Microcavities and rugate filters are chosen as the photonic crystal configuration. The deposition of a polymer layer on the pore walls of these structures is proposed to improve the selectivity and sensitivity of the sensing function. A complete effective refractive index model including the polymer layer, the target and external effects like silicon oxidation has been developed in order to accurately simulate the structures. It is expected that the proposed structures could be used as low cost, highly integrated and highly sensitive biological sensors.     

Single optical cycle laser pulse in the visible and near-infrared spectral range

Since the inception of the laser, pulse duration has been continuously decreased by the use of a variety of techniques: Q-switching, mode-locking, and pulse compression. We would like to present a new technique based on the addition of laser sub-harmonic, ALS, that allows the production of a single-cycle pulse with single-femtosecond pulse duration. This simple technique takes advantage of the recent progress made in the generation of a few optical cycles and in optical parametric amplification. Received: 10 March 1999 / Revised version: 17 May 1999 / Published online: 30 July 1999     

Polarization phenomena in the optical properties of porous silicon

We examine the polarization memory effect for porous Si excited by linearly polarized light. The various observations for the red-luminescing, slow band are discussed in the general framework of particle shape asymmetry. We show that because of the intrinsically nonlinear luminescence response, measurement parameters influence the polarization response. The preparation of porous Si with photoassisted etching is found to control the polarization retention parameter ρ. Using linearly polarized light during etching produces in-plane asymmetries. We find a substantial ρ-anisotropy linked to crystal symmetry planes and axes as a consequence of anisotropic etching. The effects are discussed with reference to current models of the light emission mechanism.     

Ultracompact and low-power optical switch based on silicon photonic crystals

Switching light is one of the most fundamental functions of an optical circuit. As such, optical switches are a major research topic in photonics, and many types of switches have been realized. Most optical switches operate by imposing a phase shift between two sections of the device to direct light from one port to another, or to switch it on and off, the major constraint being that typical refractive index changes are very small. Conventional solutions address this issue by making long devices, thus increasing the footprint, or by using resonant enhancement, thus reducing the bandwidth. We present a slow-light-enhanced optical switch that is 36 times shorter than a conventional device for the same refractive index change and has a switching length of 5.2 microm.     

Study on the thermal isolation properties of porous silicon photonic crystal

The thermal isolation properties of porous silicon photonic crystal structures have been designed and discussed theoretically. Excellent thermal isolation properties can be obtained on such a porous silicon photonic crystal, even better than that of porous silicon with high porosity. Due to the excellent thermal isolation properties of the porous silicon photonic crystal structures, they can be used as the thermal isolation substrates in infrared detectors     

中红外完全带隙Si反蛋白石光子晶体的制备与光学性能研究

通过溶剂蒸发对流自组装法制备SiO2胶体晶体,采用低压化学气相沉积法填充Si,制备得到Si反蛋白石(opal)三维光子晶体.采用扫描电子显微镜对Si反opal的显微形貌进行表征,采用平面波展开法理论模拟Si反opal的光子带隙,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪测试其光学性能.研究结果表明:Si在SiO2微球空隙内填充致密均匀,显微红外光谱测试的光子带隙反射峰位置及带宽与理论计算基本符合.变角度反射光谱测试表明,Si反opal沿不同角度入射时在中心波长3319nm处均存在明显的反射峰,证明其具有完全光子带隙,带隙位于中红外大气窗口区域.     

Two-dimensional photonic bandgap optical limiter in the visible

Operation of a two-dimensional photonic bandgap optical limiter was studied at 514.5 nm for pulse durations of 0.1 to 4 ms . Photonic crystals consisted of 180- 230-nm spatial-period nanochannel glasses containing a thermal nonlinear liquid. A dynamic range in excess of 130 was observed in a single-element device.     

Effect of photonic crystal structure on the nonlinear optical anisotropy of birefringent porous silicon

Anisotropic photonic crystal structures consisting of birefringent porous silicon layers with alternating porosity were fabricated. The in-plane birefringence formed as a result of anisotropic etching in Si(110) results in unique multilayered structures with two distinct photonic bandgaps for orthogonal light polarizations. Nonlinear optical studies based on the third-harmonic generation from these structures demonstrate variation in the symmetry of the nonlinear optical response.     

Eigenstate statistics and optical properties of one-dimensional disordered photonic crystals

Optical eigenstates in one-dimensional disordered photonic crystals were studied. The threshold disorder level was established below which the probability of appearance of an eigenstate at the photonic bandgap center is negligible. The threshold is reached when the relative fluctuation in the optical lengths of the structure periods becomes equal to the square root of one-third of the relative bandgap width. The dependence of the ensemble-averaged structure transmission coefficient on the fluctuation of the period optical length has a break corresponding to the threshold fluctuation.     

Dispersion-based optical routing in photonic crystals

We present and experimentally validate self-collimation in planar photonic crystals as a new means of achieving structureless confinement of light in optical devices. We demonstrate the ability to arbitrarily route light by exploiting the dispersive characteristics of the photonic crystal. Propagation loss as low as 2.17 dB/mm is observed, and proposed applications of these devices are presented.     

Sub-nanometer precision modification of the optical properties of three-dimensional polymer-based photonic crystals

We present a convenient post-fabrication technique to precisely tune the optical properties of polymer-based three-dimensional photonic crystals with sub-nanometer precision. Conventional air-plasma etching is utilized to modify the filling fraction of direct laser written polymer photonic crystals beyond the wavelength-imposed limits. Tuning of the optical properties is monitored in transmission and reflection spectroscopy. A simple model for the etching process is proposed and found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Large-scale photonic crystals with inserted defects and their optical properties

Deliberately introducing defects into photonic crystals is an important way to functionalize the photonic crystals. We prepare a special large-scale three-dimensional(3D) photonic crystal(PC) with designed defects by an easy and low-cost method. The defect layer consists of photoresist strips or air-core strips. Field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) shows that the 3D PC is of good quality and the defect layer is uniform. Different defect states shown in the ultraviolet-visible spectra are induced by the photoresist strip layer and air-core strip layer. The special large-scale 3D PC can be tested for integrated optical circuits, and the defects can act as optical waveguides.