Haroldo T. Hattori

Improved transmission model for metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguides with stub structure

We present an improved analytical model describing transmittance of a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguide coupled to an arbitrary number of stubs. The model is built on the well-known analogy between MDM waveguides and microwave transmission lines. This analogy allows one to establish equivalent networks for different MDM-waveguide geometries and to calculate their optical transmission spectra using standard analytical tools of transmission-line theory. A substantial advantage of our model compared to earlier works is that it precisely incorporates the dissipation of surface plasmon polaritons resulting from ohmic losses inside any metal at optical frequencies. We derive analytical expressions for transmittance of MDM waveguides coupled to single and double stubs as well as to N identical stubs with a periodic arrangement. We show that certain phase-matching conditions must be satisfied to provide opt al filtering characteristics for such waveguides. To check the accuracy of our model, its results are compared with numerical data obtained from the full-blown finite-difference time-domain simulations. Close agreement between the two suggests that our analytical model is suitable for rapid design optimization of MDM-waveguide-based compact photonic devices.

Broadband and compact 2-D photonic crystal reflectors with controllable polarization dependence

Two-dimensional (2-D) compact photonic crystal reflectors on suspended InP membranes were studied under normal incidence. We report the first experimental demonstration of 2-D broadband reflectors (experimental stopband superior to 200 nm, theoretical stopband of 350 nm). They are based on the coupling of free space waves with two slow Bloch modes of the crystal. Moreover, they present a very strong sensitivity of the polarization dependence, when modifying their geometry. A compact (50/spl times/50 /spl mu/m/sup 2/) demonstrator was realized and characterized, behaving either as a broadband reflector or as a broadband transmitter, depending on the polarization of the incident wave. Experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations.

Heterogeneous integration of microdisk lasers on silicon strip waveguides for optical interconnects

A new approach is proposed to realize an optical link for intrachip optical interconnects. This link includes III-V compound-based laser sources and photodetectors, and silicon-on-insulator-based strip waveguides. The heterogeneous integration of an InP-based microdisk laser with a silicon waveguide using SiO/sub 2/-SiO/sub 2/ molecular bonding and nanofabrication procedures is emphasized. The technological procedure is described and first experimental results show that, with an adequate configuration, 35% of light could be coupled from the optically pumped microlaser to the waveguide, as a result of the vertical evanescent coupling.

Analysis of hybrid photonic crystal vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.

Vertical resonators with a top mirror constituted of 1D photonic crystal membrane on top of a Bragg stack are investigated in this paper. These structures allow the fabrication of compact vertical-cavity surfaceemitting lasers, which can be designed, in addition, for in-plane emission. With this hybrid approach, fabrication problems related to both classical VCSEL and Photonic Crystal lasers may be significantly relaxed, given that a full Bragg stack is replaced by a single photonic crystal membrane and that the Photonic Crystal is not formed in the active gain layer.

Coupling of light from microdisk lasers into plasmonic nano-antennas

An optical dipole nano-antenna can be constructed by placing a sub-wavelength dielectric (e.g., air) gap between two metallic regions. For typical applications using light in the infrared region, the gap width is generally in the range between 50 and 100 nm. Owing to the close proximity of the electrodes, these antennas can generate very intense electric fields that can be used to excite nonlinear effects. For example, it is possible to trigger surface Raman scattering on molecules placed in the vicinity of the nano-antenna, allowing the fabrication of biological sensors and imaging systems in the nanometric scale. However, since nano-antennas are passive devices, they need to receive light from external sources that are generally much larger than the antennas. In this article, we numerically study the coupling of light from microdisk lasers into plasmonic nano-antennas. We show that, by using micro-cavities, we can further enhance the electric fields inside the nano-antennas.

In-Plane Coupling of Light From InP-Based Photonic Crystal Band-Edge Lasers Into Single-Mode Waveguides

In this paper, we analyze the coupling of light from photonic-crystal band-edge lasers into single-mode waveguides. Both active and passive devices lie in the same plane and coupling of light is achieved by using parabolic and nanotapers in InP based epitaxial structures. Two- and three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain methods are employed to analyze these devices. Coupling efficiencies higher than 80% can be obtained with parabolic couplers. We also present laser configurations that can reduce multiwavelength coupling of light into single-mode waveguides, using structures that are similar to coupled cavity Fabry-Peacuterot lasers

Coupling analysis of heterogeneous integrated InP based photonic crystal triangular lattice band-edge lasers and silicon waveguides

In recent years, many groups have envisioned the possibility of integrating optical and electronic devices in a single chip. In this paper, we study the integration of a photonic crystal laser fabricated in InP with a silicon passive waveguide. The coupling of energy between a 2D photonic crystal (PhC) triangular lattice band-edge laser and waveguide positioned underneath is analyzed in this paper. We show that a 40% coupling could be achieved provided the distance between the laser and the waveguide is carefully adjusted. A general description of the fabrication process used to realize these devices is also included in this paper.

Directional channel-drop filter based on a slow Bloch mode photonic crystal waveguide section

A two-dimensional photonic crystal channel-drop filter is proposed. This device has two high group velocity waveguides that are selectively coupled by a single, low group velocity intermediate waveguide section. It exhibits computed quality factors as high as 1300, and directional dropping efficiencies as high as 90%.

A plasmonic staircase nano-antenna device with strong electric field enhancement for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications

In this paper, a staircase plasmonic nano-antenna device is analysed both theoretically and experimentally. The tapered nano-antenna cavity with a grating leads to electric field enhancement factor (EF) as high as 31 close to 830nm. The integration of a metallic grating aids the coupling of light coming from the vertical direction to the nano-antenna, increasing the electric field in the nano-antenna by a factor of 3. The smallest air gap width between the metallic regions of the fabricated nano-antenna is about 35nm, fabricated using focused ion beam system. The small air gaps in the nano-antennas can generate very high intensity electric fields which can be used in applications in biological sensing and imaging, nanoparticle manipulations and enhancement of nonlinear effects. In this paper, to experimentally demonstrate that with the integration of a well designed grating and reflectors, the resonance inside the nano-antenna cavity is increased significantly, we exploit one application of this device: the enhancement of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The present structure can lead to SERS EFs above 1 million. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)

Analysis of optically pumped equilateral triangular microlasers with three mode-selective trenches

Triangular laser devices can provide cheap compact and high performance optical sources. We modify a large equilateral triangular laser by adding three mode-selective trenches and obtain a quasi single-mode operation for this device.