Site-controlled Ag nanocrystals grown by molecular beam epitaxy-Towards plasmonic integration technology

We demonstrate site-controlled growth of epitaxial Ag nanocrystals on patterned GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy with high degree of long-range uniformity. The alignment is based on lithographically defined holes in which position controlled InAs quantum dots are grown. The Ag nanocrystals self-align preferentially on top of the InAs quantum dots. No such ordering is observed in the absence of InAs quantum dots, proving that the ordering is strain-driven. The presented technique facilitates the placement of active plasmonic nanostructures at arbitrarily defined positions enabling their integration into complex devices and plasmonic circuits

Epitaxial self-alignment: A new route to hybrid active plasmonic nanostructures

Concepts of lateral ordering of epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are for the first time transferred to hybrid nanostructures for active plasmonics. We review our recent research on the self-alignment of epitaxial nanocrystals of In and Ag on ordered one-dimensional In(Ga)As QD arrays and isolated QDs by molecular beam epitaxy. By changing the growth conditions the size and density of the metal nanocrystals are easily controlled and the surface plasmon resonance wavelength is tuned over a wide range in order to match the emission wavelength of the QDs. Photoluminescence measurements reveal large enhancement of the emitted light intensity due to plasmon enhanced emission and absorption down to the single QD level

Electromechanical wavelength tuning of double-membrane photonic crystal cavities

We present a method for tuning the resonant wavelength of photonic crystal cavities (PCCs) around 1.55 um. Large tuning of the PCC mode is enabled by electromechanically controlling the separation between two parallel InGaAsP membranes. A fabrication method to avoid sticking between the membranes is discussed. Reversible red/blue shifting of the symmetric/anti-symmetric modes has been observed, which provides clear evidence of the electromechanical tuning, and a maximum shift of 10 nm with < 6 V applied bias has been obtained.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Micro‐photoluminescence of capped and uncapped ordered single InAs quantum dots on GaAs (311)B

Micro-photoluminescence (PL) of capped and uncapped ordered single InAs quantum dots (QDs) on patterned GaAs (311)B substrates exhibits distinct emission lines which are broadened for uncapped QDs. This indicates strong interaction with surface states paving the way towards high-sensitivity sensor applications

Complex laterally ordered InGaAs and InAs quantum dots by guided self-organized anisotropic strain engineering on shallow- and deep-patterned GaAs (311)B substrates

Self-organized anisotropic strain engineering guided on shallow- and deep-patterned GaAs (311)B substrates is exploited for formation of complex laterally ordered architectures of connected InGaAs quantum dot (QD) arrays and isolated InAs QD groups by molecular beam epitaxy. The combination of strain and step engineerings on shallow stripe-patterned substrates transforms the periodic spotlike arrangement of the InGaAs QD arrays and InAs QD groups (on planar substrates) into a zigzag arrangement of periodic stripes which are well ordered over macroscopic areas on zigzag mesa-patterned substrates. In contrast, the formation of slow-growing facets on deep-patterned substrates produces QD-free mesa sidewalls, while InGaAs QD arrays and InAs QD groups form on the GaAs (311)B top and bottom planes with arrangements modified only close to the sidewalls depending on the sidewall orientation. The QDs on the shallow- and deep-patterned substrates exhibit excellent optical properties up to room temperature. Therefore, the concept of guided self-organization demonstrated on shallow-patterned (due to steps) and deep-patterned (due to facets) substrates is highlighted for creation of complex architectures of laterally ordered QDs for future quantum functional devices. © 2007 American Institute of Physic

Photoluminescence from low temperature grown InAs/GaAs quantum dots

The authors investigated a set of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) formed by mol. beam epitaxy at low temp. (LT, 250 DegC) and postgrowth annealing. A QD photoluminescence (PL) peak around 1.01 eV was obsd. The PL efficiency quickly quenches between 6 and 40 K due to the tunneling out of the QD into traps within the GaAs barrier. The PL efficiency increases by a factor of 45-280 when exciting below the GaAs band gap, directly into the InAs QD layer. This points towards good optical quality QDs, which are embedded in a LT-GaAs barrier with a high trapping efficiency. [on SciFinder (R)

Metallic DFB lasers

In this paper we present our latest results on the design, fabrication and characterization of metal coated DFB lasers. These devices are based on a specialform of the metal-insulator-metal waveguides, which support plasmon gap modes. The distributed feedback provides control over the laser ~ wavelength and its emissive properties. The size of the semiconductor core can be as small as 100 nm, which is well below the d~ffraction limit of light. The devices operate in the near-infrared and may eventually be suitablefor low-power, high-speed applications

Long wavelength (&gt; 1.55 mu m) room temperature emission and anomalous structural properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots obtained by conversion of In nanocrystals

We demonstrate that molecular beam epitaxy-grown InAs quantum dots (QDs) on (100) GaAs obtained by conversion of In nanocrystals enable long wavelength emission in the InAs/GaAs material system. At room temperature they exhibit a broad photoluminescence band that extends well beyond 1.55 mu m. We correlate this finding with cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. They reveal that the QDs are composed of pure InAs which is in agreement with their long-wavelength emission. Additionally, the measurements reveal that the QDs have an anomalously undulated top surface which is very different to that observed for Stranski-Krastanow grown QDs

Acoustic carrier transport in InP-based structures

We demonstrate the ambipolar acoustic transport of optically generated electrons and holes by surface acoustic waves in InGaAsP waveguide structures grown on InP substrates. Transport is detected by monitoring the photoluminescence in the 1400{1500-nm wavelength range emitted by the recombination of the acoustically transported carriers several hundreds of micrometers away from the photoexcitation spot