Mid-infrared sub-wavelength grating mirror design: tolerance and influence of technological constraints

High polarization selective Si/SiO2 mid-infrared sub-wavelength grating mirrors with large bandwidth adapted to VCSEL integration are compared. These mirrors have been automatically designed for operation at \lambda = 2.3 $\mu$m by an optimization algorithm which maximizes a specially defined quality factor. Several technological constraints in relation with the grating manufacturing process have been imposed within the optimization algorithm and their impact on the optical properties of the mirror have been evaluated. Furthermore, through the tolerance computation of the different dimensions of the structure, the robustness with respect to fabrication errors has been tested. Finally, it appears that the increase of the optical performances of the mirror imposes a less tolerant design with severer technological constraints resulting in a more stringent control of the manufacturing process.Comment: The final publication is available at http://iopscience.iop.org/2040-8986/13/12/125502

Roles of resonance and dark irradiance for infrared photorefractive self-focusing and solitons in bi-polar InP:Fe

This paper shows experimental evidence of photorefractive steady state self-focusing in InP:Fe for a wide range of intensities, at both 1.06 and 1.55$\mu$m. To explain those results, it is shown that despite the bi-polar nature of InP:Fe where one photocarrier and one thermal carrier are to be considered, the long standing one photocarrier model for photorefractive solitons can be usefully applied. The relationship between the dark irradiance stemming out of this model and the known resonance intensity is then discussed

Fast photorefractive self focusing in InP:Fe semiconductor at near infrared wavelengths

Self-trapping of optical beams in photorefractive (PR) materials at telecommunications wavelengths has been studied at steady state in insulators such as SBN [1] and in semiconductor InP:Fe [2], CdTe [3]. PR self-focusing and soliton interactions in semiconductors find interesting applications in optical communications such as optical routing and interconnections because of several advantages over insulators: their sensitivity to near-infrared wavelengths and shorter response time. Photorefractive self focusing in InP:Fe is characterized as a function of beam intensity and temperature. Transient self focusing is found to occur on two time scales for input intensities of tens of W/cm2 (one on the order of tens of μs, one on the order of milliseconds). A theory developed describes the photorefractive self focusing in InP:Fe and confirmed by steady state and transient regime measurements. PR associated phenomena (bending and self focusing) are taking place in InP:Fe as fast as a μs for intensities on the order of 10W/cm2 at 1.06 μm. Currently we are conducting more experiments in order to estimate the self focusing response time at 1.55μm, to clarify the temporal dynamic of the self focusing and to build up a demonstrator of fast optical routing by photorefractive spatial solitons interactions

The hidden order behind jerky flow

Jerky flow, or the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect, is investigated at room temperature by applying statistical, multifractal and dynamical analyses to the unstable plastic flow of polycrystalline Al-Mg alloys with different initial microstructures. It is shown that a chaotic regime is found at medium strain rates, whereas a self-organized critical dynamics is observed at high strain rates. The cross-over between these two regimes is signified by a large spread in the multifractal spectrum. Possible physical mechanisms leading to this wealth of patterning behavior and their dependence on the strain rate and the initial microstructure are discussed

Dislocation transport and intermittency in the plasticity of crystalline solids

International audienceWhen envisioned at the relevant length scale, plasticity of crystalline solids consists in the transport of dislocations through the lattice. In this paper, transport of dislocations is evidenced by experimental data gathered from high-resolution extensometry carried out on copper single crystals in tension. Spatiotemporal kinematic fields display spatial correlation through characteristic lines intermittently covered by plastic activity. Intermittency shows temporal correlation and power-law distribution of avalanche size. Interpretation of this phenomenon is proposed within the framework of a field dislocation theory attacking the combined problem of dislocation transport and long-range internal stress field development. Intermittency and transport properties show remarkable independence from sample size, aspect ratio, loading rate, and strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stress

Robust design of Si/Si3N4 high contrast grating mirror for mid-infrared VCSEL application

A Si/Si3N4 high contrast grating mirror has been designed for a VCSEL integration in mid-infrared ({\lambda} = 2.65 $\mu$m). The use of an optimization algorithm which maximizes a VCSEL mirror quality factor allowed the adjustment of the grating parameters while keeping large and shallow grating pattern. The robustness with respect to fabrication error has been enhanced thanks to a precise study of the grating dimension tolerances. The final mirror exhibits large high reflectivity bandwidth with a polarization selectivity and several percent of tolerance on the grating dimensions.Comment: The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com, Optical and Quantum Electronics (2012) Online Firs

Optimized Si/SiO2 high contrast grating mirror design for mid-infrared wavelength range: robustness enhancement

A high reflectivity and polarization selective high contrast grating mirror has been designed with the use of an automated optimization algorithm. Through a precise study of the tolerance of the different lengths of the structure, the robustness with respect to the fabrication errors has been enhanced to high tolerance values between 5 % and 210 %. This adjustment of the dimensions of the structure leads to a 250 nm large bandwidth mirror well adapted for a VCSEL application at \lambda = 2.65 $\mu$m and can easily be scaled for other wavelengths.Comment: The final publication is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030399211002672\#FCANot

Multifractal burst in the spatio-temporal dynamics of jerky flow

The collective behavior of dislocations in jerky flow is studied in Al-Mg polycrystalline samples subjected to constant strain rate tests. Complementary dynamical, statistical and multifractal analyses are carried out on the stress-time series recorded during jerky flow to characterize the distinct spatio-temporal dynamical regimes. It is shown that the hopping type B and the propagating type A bands correspond to chaotic and self-organized critical states respectively. The crossover between these types of bands is identified by a large spread in the multifractal spectrum. These results are interpreted on the basis of competing scales and mechanisms.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures To be published in Phys. Rev. Lett. (2001