8 research outputs found
Concept of Inverted Refractive-Index-Contrast Grating Mirror and Exemplary Fabrication by 3D Microprinting
Highly reflective mirrors are indispensable components in a variety of
state-of-the-art photonic devices. Typically used, bulky, multi-layered
distributed Bragg (DBR) reflectors are limited to lattice-matched
semiconductors or nonconductive dielectrics. Here, we introduce an inverted
refractive-index-contrast grating (ICG), as compact, single layer alternative
to DBR. In the ICG, a subwavelength one-dimensional grating made of a low
refractive index material is implemented on a high refractive index cladding.
Our numerical simulations show that the ICG provides nearly total optical power
reflectance for the light incident from the side of the cladding whenever the
refractive index of the grating exceeds 1.75, irrespective of the refractive
index of the cladding. Additionally, the ICG enables polarization
discrimination and phase tuning of the reflected and transmitted light, the
property not achievable with the DBR. We experimentally demonstrate a
proof-of-concept ICG fabricated according to the proposed design, using the
technique of 3D microprinting in which thin stripes of IP-Dip photoresist are
deposited on a Si cladding. This one-step method avoids laborious and often
destructive etching-based procedures for grating structuration, making it
possible to implement the grating on any arbitrary cladding material
Impact of Stripe Shape on the Reflectivity of Monolithic High Contrast Gratings
Monolithic high contrast gratings (MHCGs) composed of a one-dimensional grating patterned in a monolithic layer provide up to 100% optical power reflectance and can be fabricated in almost any semiconductor and dielectric material used in modern optoelectronics. MHCGs enable monolithic integration, polarization selectivity, and versatile phase tuning. They can be from 10 to 20 times thinner than distributed Bragg reflectors. The subwavelength dimensions of MHCGs significantly reduce the possibility of ensuring the smoothness of the sidewalls of the MHCG stripes and make precise control of the shape of the MHCG stripe cross-section difficult during the etching process. The question is then whether it is more beneficial to improve the etching methods to obtain a perfect cross-section shape, as assumed by the design, or whether it is possible to find geometrical parameters that enable high optical power reflectance using the shape that a given etching method provides. Here, we present a numerical study supported by the experimental characterization of MHCGs fabricated in various materials using a variety of common surface nanometer-scale shaping methods. We demonstrate that MHCG stripes with an arbitrary cross-section shape can provide optical power reflectance of nearly 100%, which greatly relaxes their fabrication requirements. Moreover, we show that optical power reflectance exceeding 99% with a record spectral bandwidth of more than 20% can be achieved for quasi-Trapezoidal cross-sections of MHCGs. We also show that sidewall corrugations of the MHCG stripes have only a slight impact on MHCG optical power reflectance if the amplitude of the corrugation is less than 16% of the MHCG period. This level of stripe fabrication precision can be achieved using the most current surface etching methods. Our results are significant for the design and production of a variety of photonic devices employing MHCGs. The flexibility with regard to cross-section shape facilitates the reliable fabrication of highly reflective subwavelength grating mirrors. This in turn will enable the manufacture of monolithically integrated high-quality-factor optical micro-and nanocavity devices
Mode structure of quantum dot semiconductor lasers
An analysis of the transverse and longitudinal mode structure of broad area quantum dot lasers emitting at 1060nm is presented. In particular, temperature is shown to play an important role in the stabilisation of the transverse mode structure of the devices. In addition, the investigation of the the interaction between these transverse modes, through the measurement of the spatial intensity correlation, shows that the laser retains some modal properties in the unstable regime. Finally, measurements of spectral correlations between longitudinal mode groups display a strong dependency on their respective transverse mode structures indicating the importance of spatial overlap