Tunable narrow-band infrared emitters from hexagonal lattices

In this work, we present both the theoretical basis as well as supporting experimental measurements for development of a novel mid-infrared thermally stimulated narrow band emitter with a spectral bandwidth of less than 10%. To achieve this, we utilize a metallized-surface 2D photonic crystal of air voids in a silicon background with hexagonal structure symmetry. Our results are based on the generation of discrete surface plasmon (SP) modes in the thin metallized layer residing on the top surface. This yields a series of adequately spaced discrete peaks in the reflection spectrum, dominated by a single sharp feature corresponding to the lowest plasmon order, in an otherwise uniform highly reflective spectrum (>90%) over most of the IR spectrum. This, in turn, gives rise to a sharp absorption feature with a correspondingly narrow thermal emission peak in the emission spectrum. Transfer matrix calculations simulate well both the position and strengths of the absorption peaks. By altering the period of the surface photonic lattice, the SP peak and emissive band can be tuned to the desired wavelength. These devices promise a new class of tunable infrared emitters with high power in a narrow spectral bandwidth. Such narrow band sources are critical to achieving high efficiency gas sensors.     

Optically pumped InGaN/GaN MQW lift-off lasers grown on silicon substrates

Chemical etching and removal of the silicon substrate was used for the creation of optically pumped lift-off InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) lasers from heterostructures grown on silicon substrate by MOVPE. Luminescence and laser properties of these heterostructures on silicon substrates as well as those of MQWs lifted-off from their substrate by chemical etching were investigated. The lowest value of the lasing threshold of the lift-off lasers at room temperature was about 205 kW/cm² for a laser wavelength of 463 nm and about 360 kW/cm² for a wavelength of 475 nm. It was shown theoretically that the reduction of internal losses, caused by the absence of absorption in the substrate (resulting from its removal) is most significant for the high order modes having lower values of mirror losses and can lead to a 50% reduction of the threshold (or material gain in InGaN necessary to achieve the threshold).     

Feasibility study of optically pumped molecular lasers with small quantum defect

An analytical analysis of continuous wave (CW) optically pumped molecular lasers with small quantum defect is presented. The results show the conditions under which lasing with small Stokes shifts are possible. The general results are applied to HCN as an example gas. The predictions from the analytical approach are in good quantitative agreement with numerical calculations. The effective vibrational lifetimes and rotational relaxation rates of the molecule determine the principal behavior of such lasers. High overall laser efficiencies are possible for long interaction length of pump laser and gas media, which for example can be achieved in waveguide structures. This makes such lasers potentially interesting for coherently combining the output of mutually incoherent fiber and or diode lasers.     

Impacts of oxygen sensitization methods on the deposition and microstructure of ternary lead chalcogenide alloys

Oxygen sensitization and incorporation of ternary lead chalcogenide PbSe_1-xTe_x thin films was investigated with two methods: adding oxygen via PbO to the bulk source alloy and post-deposition oxygen annealing. Characterization of the composition, structure, and morphology of these films confirmed that they follow Vegard's law for lattice parameter, and adding PbO to the source alloy did not impact the lattice parameter. However, adding PbO changed the electrical carrier properties observed in Hall effect measurements without forming any new oxide phase. Conversely, post-deposition annealing increased the lattice parameter due to oxygen incorporation into the lattice via interstitials in samples with appropriate grain boundary orientations. Morphological analysis revealed that PbSe_0.8Te_0.2 films demonstrated (100) texture, while PbSe_0.6Te_0.4 films demonstrated (111) texture with resulting grain boundary orientations more favorable to oxygen diffusion and incorporation. This varying oxygen incorporation from PbO source and oxygen annealing methods reveals trends that can lead to improved photodetector performance.     

Tm3+:Ho3+共掺石英光纤激光器的实验研究

用铥钬共掺石英光纤,在钛宝石激光泵浦下,获得了波长为1870 nm、最大功率为240 mW的单模激光输出,斜率效率接近31％这是目前用该类光纤获得的最高转换效率研究了输出激光功率、输出光谱随泵浦功率、激活光纤长度的变化关系,并对相应结果进行了分析     

The progress towards terahertz quantum cascade lasers on silicon substrates

A review is presented of work over the last 10 years which has been aimed at trying to produce a Si‐based THz quantum cascade laser. Potential THz applications and present THz sources will be briefly discussed before the materials issues with the Si/SiGe system is discussed. Waveguide designs and waveguide losses will be presented. Experimental measurements of the non‐radiative lifetimes for intersubband transitions in Si_1‐xGe_x quantum wells will be presented along with theory explaining the important scattering mechanisms which determine the lifetimes. Examples of p‐type Si/SiGe quantum cascade designs with the experimental electroluminescence will be reviewed and examples of n‐type Si‐based designs will be presented. In the conclusion designs and structures will be discussed with the greatest potential to achieve an electrically pumped Si‐based THz laser.     

Structure-related infrared optical properties of BaTiO3 thin films grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates

BaTiO₃ thin films with different thickness have been grown on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by a modified sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction analyses show that the BaTiO₃ thin films are polycrystalline. The crystalline quality of the films is improved with increasing thickness. The infrared optical properties of the BaTiO₃ thin films have been investigated using an infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wave number range of 800-4000 cm⁻¹ (2.5-12.5 μm). By fitting the measured pseudodielectric functions with a three-phase model (Air/BaTiO₃/Pt), and a derived classical dispersion relation for the thin films, the optical constants and thicknesses of the thin films have been simultaneously obtained. The refractive index of the BaTiO₃ thin films increases and on the other hand, the extinction coefficient does not change with increasing thickness in the entirely measured wave number range. The dependence of the refractive index on the film thickness has been discussed in detail and was mainly due to both the crystalline quality of the films and packing density. Finally, the absorption coefficient was calculated in the infrared region for applications in the pyroelectric IR detectors.     

Contacting boron emitters on n‐type silicon solar cells with aluminium‐free silver screen‐printing pastes

In the production of n‐type Si solar cells, B diffusion is commonly applied to form the p⁺ emitter. Up to now, Ag screen‐printing pastes, generally used to contact P emitters, had been incapable of reliably contact B emitters. Therefore, a small amount of Al is generally added to Ag pastes to allow for reasonable contact resistances. The addition of Al, however, results in deep metal spikes growing into the Si surface that can penetrate the emitter. Losses in open‐circuit voltage are attributed to these deep metal spikes. In this investigation we demonstrate, that state‐of‐the‐art Al‐free Ag screen‐printing pastes are capable to contact BBr₃‐based B emitters covered with different dielectric layers and reach specific contact resistances <1 mΩ cm². Bifacial n‐type solar cells with Al‐free Ag pastes on both sides show efficiencies of up to 18.3% and series resistances <0.5 Ω cm². (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Physical properties of ZnSe thin films deposited on glass and silicon substrates

ZnSe thin films were deposited onto Corning glass and silicon substrates using thermal evaporation. The samples were prepared at different substrate temperatures. The thin films’ surface chemical composition was determined through Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). AES signals corresponding to Zn and Se were only detected in AES spectra. The samples’ crystallographic structure was studied through X-ray diffraction. The material crystallised in the cubic structure with preferential orientation (111). Optical properties of the ZnSe films were studied over two energy ranges via electron energy loss spectroscopy (10–90 eV) and spectral transmittance measurements (0.4–4 eV). In both cases, the spectral variation of the refractive index and the absorption coefficient were determined by fitting the experimental results with well-established theoretical models. Experimental values for the material’s gap were also found, and photoconductivity (PC) measurements were carried out. Transitions between bands, usually labelled Γ^V₈ → Γ^C₆ and Γ^V₇ → Γ^C₆, were found in the optical and PC responses. A wide spectral photoconductive response between 300 and 850 nm was found in the ZnSe/Si samples prepared at 250 °C substrate temperature.     

An infrared pyroelectric detector improved by cool isostatic pressing with cup-shaped PZT thick film on silicon substrate

In this paper, we presented a new pyroelectric detector with back to back silicon cups and micro-bridge structure. The PZT thick film shaped in the front cup was directly deposited with designed pattern by electrophoresis deposition (EPD). Pt/Ti Metal film, which was fabricated by standard photolithography and lift-off technology, was sputtered to connect the top electrode and the bonding pad. The cold isostatic press (CIP) treatment could be applied to improve the pyroelectric properties of PZT thick film. The infrared (IR) properties the CIP-optimized detector were measured. The voltage responsivity (R_V) was 4.5 × 10² V/W at 5.3 Hz, the specific detectivity (D^*) was greater than 6.34 × 10⁸ cm Hz^1/2 W⁻¹ (frequency > 110 Hz), and the thermal time constant was 51 ms, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO columns grown on MgO-coated silicon substrates by carbon-thermal evaporation

Zinc oxide columns have been grown on an MgO-coated silicon (111) substrate by the carbon-thermal evaporation method at 1050 °C. The MgO layer obtained from the substrate pre-dripped in Mg(NO₃)₂ solution by the use of a dropper can solve the troublesome lattice mismatch problem in the heteroepitaxy and promote the growth of ZnO columns effectively. The as-prepared ZnO structures were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission transmission electron microscope (FETEM), selection area electron diffraction (SAED), and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. The results show that the columns are highly crystalline with the wurtzite hexagonal structure, and grow along the [0001] in the c-axis direction. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the as-synthesized microstructures exhibit broad green emission peaks at ∼514 nm. In addition, the growth mechanism of the two ZnO structures is discussed based on the analysis briefly based on the time-dependent experiment.     

Transfer printing of fully formed thin‐film microscale GaAs lasers on silicon with a thermally conductive interface material

High performance semiconductor lasers on silicon are critical elements of next generation photonic integrated circuits. Transfer printing methods provide promising paths to achieve hybrid integration of III‐V devices on Si platforms. This paper presents materials and procedures for epitaxially releasing thin‐film microscale GaAs based lasers after their full fabrication on GaAs native substrates, and for subsequently transfer printing arrays of them onto Si wafers. An indium‐silver based alloy serves as a thermally conductive bonding interface between the lasers and the Si, for enhanced performance. Numerical calculations provide comparative insights into thermal properties for devices with metallic, organic and semiconductor interfaces. Under current injection, the first of these three interfaces provides, by far, the lowest operating temperatures. Such devices exhibit continuous‐wave lasing in the near‐infrared range under electrical pumping, with performance comparable to unreleased devices on their native substrates.

     

低能质子辐照ZnO/silicone白漆产生微观损伤的红外光谱研究

 通过空间综合辐照模拟设备对能量小于200 keV质子辐照下ZnO/silicone白漆光学性能变化及损伤机理进行研究。结果表明,ZnO/silicone白漆的光学性能退化主要发生在可见光区,太阳吸收比随质子辐照能量、注量的增加而增大。借助傅里叶变换红外光谱分析技术研究了质子辐照ZnO/silicone白漆时有机硅树脂的光学性能退化机理。质子辐照使ZnO/silicone白漆中游离氧含量增加,氧化硅原子上的有机取代基使Si—C链断裂,并生成活性羟基,而这种活性羟基能促使有机硅树脂内Si—O—Si键的裂解。同时Si—O—Si链内氧原子未成键的孤对电子与邻近硅原子的3d空轨道配位,降低了π*轨道的能量,提高了对光吸收的几率,增强了n→π*电子跃迁,使吸收带红移,从而导致ZnO/silicone白漆光学性能退化。     

Mechanisms for soft‐tissue ablation and the development of alternative medical lasers based on investigations with mid‐infrared free‐electron lasers

Experimental evidence indicating the potential biomedical advantages of using a Mark‐III Free‐Electron Laser (FEL) for the ablation of soft tissue were first reported in 1994. Research progress since that time is reviewed, including: 1) successful human surgery using the Mark‐III FEL; 2) advances in understanding the physical mechanism for infrared tissue ablation and how these mechanistic features correlate with the preferential ablative properties; 3) the pursuit of table‐top, nanosecond‐pulsed laser technology that mimics the preferential ablation properties of the Mark‐III FEL with the aim of improving clinical acceptance of mid‐infrared laser ablation of soft tissue; and 4) current research challenges.     

Normal incidence silicon doped p-type GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well infrared photodetector on (1 1 1)A substrate

p-type quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) demonstrate normal incidence response due to band mixing by utilizing valence band transitions that may break the selection rule limiting n-type QWIPs. Due to even more complicated valence band structure in (1 1 1) orientation, it is interesting to see that the p-type QWIP show both absorption and photocurrent response dominant in normal incidence. The p-type GaAs/AlGaAs QWIP was fabricated on GaAs(1 1 1)A substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using silicon as dopant with a measured carrier concentration of 1.4 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. The photocurrent spectrum exhibits a peak at a wavelength of 7 μm with a relatively broad peak width (Δλ/λ_p  50%), indicating that the final state is far deep within the continuum of the valence band. The p-QWIP demonstrates a responsivity of about 1 mA/W, which is limited by the relatively low doping concentration.     

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry of (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O3 thin films on platinized silicon

Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin films with different La concentrations (x), whose composition is x/40/60, have been grown directly on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si (100) substrates by a modified sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the PLZT thin films are polycrystalline. The infrared optical properties of the PLZT thin films have been investigated using the infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range of 2.5–12.5 μm. By fitting the measured ellipsometric spectra (Ψ and Δ) with a three-phase model (air/PLZT/Pt), and a derived classical dispersion relation for the thin films, the optical constants and thicknesses of the thin films have been obtained. The refractive index of the PLZT thin films decreases with increasing La concentrations, however, the extinction coefficient increases with increasing La concentrations except for the PLZT(4/40/60) thin films. The values of the effective static charge calculated for the PLZT thin films, which state that PLZT belongs to a mixed ionic-covalent compound, decrease with increasing La concentrations. Moreover, the refractive index at the wavelength of 2.5 μm changes linearly with the effective static charge. The plot of the calculated infrared optical absorption versus wavelength for the Ni/PLZT/Pt multilayer structures with various La concentrations is given and indicates that the PLZT thin films are excellent candidates for ferroelectric infrared detectors and focal plane arrays.     

基于光电负反馈的光注入1550nm垂直腔面发射激光器产生窄线宽微波信号

基于1 550nm垂直腔面发射激光器在平行偏振光注入下呈现的单周期非线性动力学状态,进一步引入光电负反馈,得到了高质量的微波信号.实验研究结果表明:平行偏振光注入下,通过调节注入光的注入强度及频率,1 550nm垂直腔面发射激光器可呈现注入锁定、单周期、倍周期、混沌等多种非线性动力学状态;在合适的注入参量下,平行偏振光注入1 550nm垂直腔面发射激光器可产生光谱具有单边带结构、频率超过10GHz的光子微波信号,但该微波信号的线宽较宽(达MHz量级);进一步引入光电负反馈后,通过选取合适的光电反馈强度,可将该微波信号的线宽减小至一百多kHz(减小两个量级以上);在选择优化的反馈强度条件下,仅通过简单调节注入光强度,可实现窄线宽光子微波信号的频率在一定范围内连续可调谐.     

Investigations on spectral features of tungsten ions in sodium lead alumino borate glass system

Na₂O–PbO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ (NPAB) glasses mixed with different concentrations of WO₃ (ranging from 0 to 2.5 mol%) are synthesized by conventional melt quenching method. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorption, Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic techniques. Glass formation is confirmed by X-ray diffraction spectra. The optical absorption spectra of these glasses exhibited a predominant broad band peak at about 850–870 nm is identified due to d_xy–d_x²_−y² transition of W⁵⁺ ions. From the optical absorption spectral data, optical band gap (E_opt) and Urbach energy (ΔE) are evaluated. From EPR spectra the strength of the signal is increased and hyperfine splitting is resolved with increasing concentration of WO₃ in the glass matrix. The FT-IR spectral studies have pointed out the existence of conventional BO₃, BO₄, B–O–B, PbO₄, WO₄ and WO₆ structural units of these glasses. Various physical properties and optical basicity are also evaluated with respect to the concentration of WO₃ ions.