Dynamical thermal effects in InGaAsP microtubes at telecom wavelengths

We report on the observation of a dynamical thermal effect in InGaAsP microtubes at telecom wavelengths. The microtubes are fabricated by releasing a strained semiconductor bilayer and are picked up by abruptly tapered optical fibers for subsequent coupling with adiabatically tapered optical fibers. As a result of absorption by InAs quantum dots embedded in the tube structure, these microtubes show dynamical thermal effects at wavelengths around 1525 nm and 1578 nm, while they are passive at longer wavelengths near 1634 nm. The photon absorption induced thermal effect is visualized by generating a pair of microbottles. The dynamical thermal effect can be avoided or exploited for passive or active applications by utilizing appropriate resonance wavelengths.     

Enhanced photonic crystal cavity-waveguide coupling using local slow-light engineering

This Letter introduces an enhanced cavity-waveguide coupling architecture based upon slow-light engineering in a two-port photonic crystal system. After analyzing the system transmittance using coupled-mode theory, the system is probed experimentally and shown to have increased transmittance due to the enhanced cavity-waveguide coupling. Such a coupling architecture may facilitate next-generation planar lightwave circuitry such as onchip quantum information processing or high precision light-matter sensing applications.     

eHydrogenation: Hydrogen-free Electrochemical Hydrogenation

Hydrogenation reactions are staple transformations commonly used across scientific fields to synthesise pharmaceuticals, natural products, and various functional materials. However, the vast majority of these reactions require the use of a toxic and costly catalyst leading to unpractical, hazardous and often functionally limited conditions. Herein, we report a new, general, practical, efficient, mild and high-yielding hydrogen-free electrochemical method for the reduction of alkene, alkyne, nitro and azido groups. Finally, this method has been applied to deuterium labelling.