Samuele Gardin

Amplified spontaneous emission from opal photonic crystals engineered with structural defects

In this work, we report on the optical properties and amplified spontaneous emissions (ASE) of polystyrene opals engineered with planar structural defects containing a conjugated polymer emitter. Defects in opals give rise to allowed states inside the photonic stop band, which are probed by transmittance and reflectance spectroscopy. The emission spectrum of the polymer embedded in the defect layer is strongly modified and fingerprints of defect states located inside the stop band are recognized. Amplified spontaneous emission for these engineered photonic crystals is clearly observed.

Microlasers based on effective index confined slow light modes in photonic crystal waveguides.

We present the design, theory and experimental implementation of a low modal volume microlaser based on a line-defect 2D-photonic crystal waveguide. The lateral confinement of low-group velocity modes is controlled by the post-processing of 1 to 3microm wide PMMA strips on top of two dimensional photonic crystal waveguides. Modal volume around 1.3 (lambda/n)(3) can be achieved using this scheme. We use this concept to fabricate microlaser devices from an InP-based heterostructure including InAs(0.65)P(0.35) quantum wells emitting around 1550nm and bonded onto a fused silica wafer. We observe stable, room-temperature laser operation with an effective lasing threshold around 0.5mW.

One- and two-photon pumped soft lithographed DFB laser systems based on semiconductor core-shell quantum dots

In the last years inorganic semiconductor (particularly CdSe and CdS) quantum dots (QDs) have received great attention for their important optical properties. The possibility to tune the emission wavelength, together with their high fluorescence quantum efficiency and photostability, can be exploited in photonic and optoelectronic technological applications. The design of DFB devices, based on QDs as active optical material, leads to the realization of compact laser systems. In this work we explore the use of an inorganic/organic hybrid material composed of CdSe-ZnS semiconductor quantum dots doped into a zirconia sol-gel matrix for optical gain applications. Through the use of soft lithography on a sol-gel germania-silica hybrid, large scale distributed feedback gratings can be created. Used in conjunction with the CdSe-ZnS/ZrO2 hybrids, these gratings can act as microcavities and allow for the realization of true lasing action. The lasing properties within these devices are characterized in the femtosecond regime by both one- and two-photon excitation. From experimental data the value of the optical gain of the core-shell quantum dot samples has been estimated. Moreover, one- and two-photon lasing threshold and stability are reported.

Synthesis of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-TiO 2 UV-sensitive waveguides

A hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel material based on 3-(glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), an organically modified alkoxide containing an epoxy ring in the organic functional group, and titanium isopropoxide Ti(OPri)4 has been synthesised. The presence of Ti alkoxide is important in order to increase the refractive index and to improve the mechanical and physical properties of the film. A basic catalysis has been used to perform the hydrolysis/condensation reactions of the inorganic network and to preserve the presence of unreacted epoxy rings. The epoxy groups are thus available in the final solid state films for the UV-photopolymerization process. The photopolymerization allows one to increase the refractive index and to pattern the film directly. The modification of the hybrid sol-gel TiO2 matrix microstructure during the thermal treatment and the interaction with the UV light have been investigated by FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies, DTA and TGA thermal analysis. The sol-gel film thickness and roughness have been analyzed by a profilometer: the films possess high optical quality and well controlled thickness, ranging from 500 nm to 2 μm. The refractive index of sol-gel thin films was measured by m-line spectroscopy and ellipsometry. An increase of the refractive index in the range 0,02÷0,1 was achieved, depending on the UV irradiation dose.

One- and Two-Photon Pumped DFB Laser Based on Semiconductor Quantum Dots Embedded in a Sol-Gel Matrix

In the last years inorganic semiconductor (CdSe and CdS) quantum dots (QDs) have received great attention for their important optical properties: the design of DFB devices, based on QDs as active optical material, leads to the realization of compact laser systems.