Guy A. DeRose

Transmission and group delay of microring coupled-resonator optical waveguides

We measured the transmission and group delay of microring coupled-resonator optical waveguides (CROWs). The CROWs consisted of 12 weakly coupled, microring resonators fabricated in optical polymers (PMMA on Cytop). The intrinsic quality factor of the resonators was 18,000 and the interresonator coupling was 1%, resulting in a delay of 110-140 ps and a slowing factor of 23-29 over a 17 GHz bandwidth.

Hybrid InGaAsP-InP Mach-Zehnder Racetrack Resonator for Thermooptic Switching and Coupling Control

An InGaAsP-InP optical switch geometry based on electrical control of waveguide-resonator coupling is demonstrated. Thermooptic tuning of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer integrated with a racetrack resonator is shown to result in switching with ON-OFF contrast up to 18.5 dB. The optical characteristics of this unique design enable a substantial reduction of the switching power, to a value of 26 mW in comparison with 40 mW for a conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer switch. Modulation response measurements reveal a 3 dB bandwidth of 400 kHz and a rise time of 1.8 micros, comparing favorably with current state-of-the-art thermooptic switches.

InGaAsP annular Bragg lasers: theory, applications, and modal properties

A novel class of circular resonators, based on a radial defect surrounded by Bragg reflectors, is studied in detail. Simple rules for the design and analysis of such structures are derived using a transfer matrix formalism. Unlike conventional ring resonators, annular Bragg resonators (ABR) are not limited by the total internal reflection condition and can exhibit both large free spectral ranges and low bend losses. The Bragg reflection mechanism enables the confinement of light within a defect consisting of a low refractive index medium (such as air). Strong atom-photon interaction can be achieved in such a structure, making it a promising candidate for sensing and cavity quantum electrodynamics applications. For sensing applications, we show that the ABR structure can possess significantly higher sensitivity when compared to a conventional ring resonator sensor. Lasing action and low threshold levels are demonstrated in ABR lasers at telecommunication wavelengths under pulsed optical pumping at room temperatures. The impact of the intensity and dimensions of the pump spot on the emitted spectrum is studied in detail.

Lasing from a circular Bragg nanocavity with an ultrasmall modal volume

We demonstrate single-mode lasing at telecommunication wavelengths from a circular nanocavity employing a radial Bragg reflector. Ultrasmall modal volumes and submilliwatt pump thresholds level are observed for lasers with InGaAsP quantum well active membrane. The electromagnetic field is shown to be tightly confined within the 300 nm central pillar of the cavity. The quality factors of the resonator modal fields are estimated to be on the order of a few thousands.microcavity lasers; nanotechnology; distributed Bragg reflector lasers; optical pumping; indium compounds; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; III-V semiconductors; semiconductor epitaxial layers; quantum well lasers; Q-factor; laser modes

Low-threshold two-dimensional annular Bragg lasers

Lasing at telecommunication wavelengths from annular resonators employing radial Bragg reflectors is demonstrated at room temperature under pulsed optical pumping. Submilliwatt pump threshold levels are observed for resonators with 0.5-1.5-wavelength-wide defects of radii 7-8 microm. The quality factors of the resonator modal fields are estimated to be of the order of a few thousand. The electromagnetic field is shown to be guided by the defect. Good agreement is found between the measured and the calculated spectra.

Polymer microring coupled-resonator optical waveguides

We present measurements of the transmission and dispersion properties of coupled-resonator optical waveguides (CROWs) consisting of weakly coupled polymer microring resonators. The fabrication and the measurement methods of the CROWs are discussed as well. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical loss, waveguide dispersion, group delay, group velocity, and group-velocity dispersion (GVD). The intrinsic quality factors of the microrings were about 1.5/spl times/10/sup 4/ to 1.8/spl times/10/sup 4/, and group delays greater than 100 ps were measured with a GVD between -70 and 100 ps/(nm/spl middot/resonator). With clear and simple spectral responses and without a need for the tuning of the resonators, the polymer microring CROWs demonstrate the practicability of using a large number of microresonators to control the propagation of optical waves.

Lithographically fabricated optical cavities for refractive index sensing

Since the development of distributed Bragg gratings, high resolution lithography and etching have been applied towards the concentration of light. The most important application of lithographically fabricated microcavities has been for the spectral control over laser emission. Here we describe the opportunities that arise from further miniaturization of laser cavities by using high index contrast photonic crystal mirrors and annular Bragg reflectors. We have used these optical cavities, with mode volumes as small as 10^–17 l, to perform spectroscopic analysis and compare the mode volumes and sensitivities of these geometries.

Vertically emitting annular Bragg lasers using polymer epitaxial transfer

Fabrication of a planar semiconductor microcavity, composed of cylindrical Bragg reflectors surrounding a radial defect, is demonstrated. A versatile polymer bonding process is used to transfer active InGaAsP resonators to a low-index transfer substrate. Vertical emission of in-plane modes lasing at telecom wavelengths is observed under pulsed optical excitation with a submilliwatt threshold.

Electrically pumped edge-emitting photonic crystal lasers with angled facets

We demonstrate electrically pumped large-area edge-emitting InGaAsP/InP two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers with angled facets at room temperature. The laser uses a weak index perturbation surface photonic crystal structure to control optical modes in the wafer plane. Measurements of the laser spectra show that the modal selection is due to satisfying the Bragg resonance conditions in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions. The lasing wavelength is tuned lithographically by changing photonic crystal lattice constants. We demonstrate a fine lasing wavelength tuning sensitivity (change of lasing wavelength over change of lattice constant) of 0.08 through the transverse lattice constant tuning.

Room Temperature Continuous Wave Operation of Single-Mode, Edge-Emitting Photonic Crystal Bragg Lasers

We report the first room temperature CW operation of two dimensional single-mode edge-emitting photonic crystal Bragg lasers. Single-mode lasing with single-lobed, diffraction limited far-fields is obtained for 100mum wide and 550 mum long on-chip devices.