Michael E. Pollard

Low-contrast bandgaps of a planar parabolic spiral lattice

We show that a planar aperiodic lattice, mimicking the appearance of a sunflower, supports photonic bandgaps for weak dielectric contrast. The patterns high orientational order and spatially uniform modal pitch yields an isotropic Fourier space. A 2D structure of cylinders (=2) in air possesses a wide 21% TM bandgap, versus 5.6% for a sixfold lattice or 14% for a 12-fold fractal tiling. The isotropic gap frequencies imply flat bands, and thus application in nonlinear optics and low threshold lasers, where a reduced group velocity in all directions may be desired.

Photonic crystal and quasi-crystals providing simultaneous light coupling and beam splitting within a low refractive-index slab waveguide

Coupling between free space components and slab waveguides is a common requirement for integrated optical devices, and is typically achieved by end-fire or grating coupling. Power splitting and distribution requires additional components. Usually grating couplers are used in combination with MMI/Y-splitters to do this task. In this paper, we present a photonic crystal device which performs both tasks simultaneously and is able to couple light at normal incidence and near normal incidence. Our approach is scalable to large channel counts with little impact on device footprint. We demonstrate in normal incidence coupling with multi-channel splitting for 785u2009nm light. Photonic crystals are etched into single mode low refractive index SiON film on both SiO2/Si and borosilicate glass substrate. Triangular lattices are shown to provide coupling to 6 beams with equal included angle (60°), while a quasi-crystal lattice with 12-fold rotational symmetry yields coupling to 12 beams with equal included angle (30°). We show how to optimize the lattice constant to achieve efficient phase matching between incident and coupled mode wave vectors, and how to adjust operating wavelength from visible to infrared wavelengths.

Nanostructured surface enhanced Raman scattering sensor platform with integrated waveguide core

We present a planar waveguide based sensor capable of simultaneous surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)/surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing methodologies. The sensor consists of a nanostructured area etched into a low loss planar waveguide fabricated from silicon oxynitride. The selective deposition of the 25u2009nm thick gold film on the nanostructured features was applied to create the SERS/SPR active sites. In this work, we adapt the SPR approach, coupling light propagating along the slab waveguide to the nano-textured area from underneath. The shapes of the nanostructures, thickness, and morphology of the gold coating are chosen to be suitable for SERS and SPR. Effects of geometric parameters associated with the nanostructured features such as diameters, length, and pitch were investigated. Detection of Benzyl Mercaptan was accomplished using a 785u2009nm laser in a SERS configuration excited from the underlying waveguide core. The detection of the analyte was confirmed by normal incident SERS measure...

Evaluating the accuracy of point spread function deconvolutions applied to luminescence images

Luminescence imaging is a widely used characterization technique for silicon photovoltaics. However, the tools used to acquire images typically utilize a silicon CCD array for detection, which is a poor absorber at silicon luminescence wavelengths. This leads to a smearing effect in the measured image which can be characterized by a point spread function (PSF). If the true PSF is known then the measured image can be restored through deconvolution. Several methods exist for determining a PSF for a particular imaging system and different extraction techniques can lead to variations in the PSF result, yet no studies have provided comprehensive analysis of PSF deconvolution accuracy when applied to luminescence imaging. In this work, several new techniques have been designed and investigated in order to test PSF deconvolution results, with a view to quantifying improvement or errors generated and potentially leading towards improved image restoration.

Fabrication of photonic crystals in rare-earth doped chalcogenide glass films for enhanced upconversion

Gallium lanthanum oxysulfide (GLSO) is a promising host material for observing strong upconversion emission from trivalent rare-earth ions such as erbium (Er3+). Its attractive properties include high rare-earth solubility due to the lanthanum content of the glass former, a high refractive index (n = 2.2 at 550nm) for high radiative efficiency, and a low maximum phonon energy of approximately 425cm -1. Photonic crystals meanwhile can provide controlled light extraction, and may be capable of suppressing unwanted IR emission from lower lying metastable states. Here, we describe the fabrication of photonic crystals in annealed films of Er3+-doped GLSO deposited by RF sputtering. The most intense visible upconversion emission is observed in films annealed at 550°C, close to the bulk glass transition temperature. Hexagonal lattice photonic crystals are subsequently milled into the films using a focused ion beam (FIB). The milling parameters are optimized to produce the most vertical sidewall profile.

Spectral response of steady-state photoluminescence from GaAs1-xPx layers grown on a SiGe/Si system

Measuring the spectral response of photoluminescence (SRPL) in solar cells has recently attracted attention as it can be used as a contactless relative measure of external quantum efficiency (EQE) prior to full device fabrication. However, this technique requires that the monitored PL spectrum originates mainly from a region in the solar cell with uniformly distributed majority carriers. For a stack of thin films with a similar material composition, the slightly different emission spectrum from each layer may lead to the superposition of several luminescence peaks. This letter presents the measurement of the SRPL from GaAsP tandem solar cells and outlines a method for separating the individual layer contributions. Good agreement between measured SRPL and EQE at short wavelengths has been achieved, and the deviations at longer wavelengths have been analyzed. This study also reveals unexpected bandgap narrowing resulting from a variable material composition within the active region.

Detection of low concentration formaldehyde gas by photonic crystal sensor fabricated by nanoimprint process in polymer material

This paper describes experimental measurement results for photonic crystal sensor devices which have been functionalized for gas sensing applications. The sensor consists of a two dimensional photonic crystal etched into a slab waveguide having a refractive index of 1.7-1.9. Test devices were fabricated from SiON material on silicon / silicon dioxide platform, and also in polymer materials on silicon platform. The inorganic photonic crystals were made using direct write electron-beam lithography and reactive ion etching. The polymeric devices were made by nano-imprint lithography using the SiON structure as the imprint master. The high refractive index polymer was composed of a TiO2 - UV resin nanocomposite having a nanoparticle fraction between 50 and 60 wt%. This resulted in a tunable refractive index between 1.7 and 1.85. Devices were functionalized for gas sensing applications by coating the surface with a chemical receptor. This responsive layer reacts with the target gas and changes its refractive index. This change causes the angle of out-coupling to change slightly. In this paper we report successful detection of formaldehyde in air at sub ppm levels, and discuss details of chemical functionalization of the PC sensor.

Integrated waveguide and nanostructured sensor platform for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract. Limitations of current sensors include large dimensions, sometimes limited sensitivity and inherent single-parameter measurement capability. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy can be utilized for environment and pharmaceutical applications with the intensity of the Raman scattering enhanced by a factor of 106. By fabricating and characterizing an integrated optical waveguide beneath a nanostructured precious metal coated surface a new surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensing arrangement can be achieved. Nanostructured sensors can provide both multiparameter and high-resolution sensing. Using the slab waveguide core to interrogate the nanostructures at the base allows for the emission to reach discrete sensing areas effectively and should provide ideal parameters for maximum Raman interactions. Thin slab waveguide films of silicon oxynitride were etched and gold coated to create localized nanostructured sensing areas of various pitch, diameter, and shape. These were interrogated using a Ti:Sapphire laser tuned to 785-nm end coupled into the slab waveguide. The nanostructured sensors vertically projected a Raman signal, which was used to actively detect a thin layer of benzyl mercaptan attached to the sensors.

Nanosphere lithography for improved absorption in thin crystalline silicon solar cells

Over the last decade, plasmonic nanoparticle arrays have been extensively studied for their light trapping potential in thin film solar cells. However, the commercial use of such arrays has been limited by complex and expensive fabrication techniques such as e-beam lithography. Nanosphere lithography (NSL) is a promising low-cost alternative for forming regular arrays of nanoscale features. Here, we use finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to determine the optical enhancement due to nanosphere arrays embedded at the rear of a complete thin film device. Array parameters including the nanosphere pitch and diameter are explored, with the FDTD model itself first validated by comparing simulations of Ag nanodisc arrays with optical measurements of pre-existing e-beam fabricated test structures. These results are used to guide the development of a nanosphere back-reflector for 20 μm thin crystalline silicon cells. The deposition of polystyrene nanosphere monolayers is optimized to provide uniform arrays, which are subsequently incorporated into preliminary, proof of concept device structures. Absorption and photoluminescence measurements clearly demonstrate the potential of nanosphere arrays for improving the optical response of a solar cell using economical and scalable methods.