a Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University Park, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
b Defence and Evaluation Research Agency, St Andrews Road, Malvern, WR14 3PS, UK
Abstract:
FIPOS technology forms islands of silicon isolated from a silicon substrate by (oxidised) porous silicon. The larger refractive index of the silicon islands suggests their use as optical waveguides. Sets of these silicon islands have been fabricated and the anticipated waveguiding has been observed at wavelengths of 1.15 and 1.3 μm in the silicon islands. However, the dominant waveguiding in these FIPOS structures is observed in the porous silicon between the silicon islands, close to the sample surface. A simple dynamic model of the anodisation process has been developed to explain the origin of this unexpected waveguiding.