Nonlinear Optics in Silicon Wire Waveguides: Towards Integrated Long Wavelength Light Sources

ABSTRACTMost of the research on silicon-on-insulator integrated circuits has been focused on applications for telecommunication. By using the large refractive index of silicon, compact complex photonic functions have been integrated on a silicon chip. However, the transparency of silicon up to 8.5 μm enables the use of the platform for the mid infrared wavelength region, albeit limited by the absorption in silicon oxide from 4 μm on. This could lead to a whole new set of integrated photonics circuits for sensing, given the distinct absorption bands of many molecules in this wavelength region. These long wavelength integrated photonic circuits would preferably need broadband or widely tunable sources to probe these absorption bands.We propose the use of nonlinear optics in silicon wire waveguides to generate light in this wavelength range. Nonlinear interactions in just a few cm of silicon wire waveguides can be very efficient as a result of both the high nonlinear index of silicon and the high optical confinement obtained in these waveguides. We demonstrate the generation of a supercontinuum spanning from 1.53 μm up to 2.55 μm in a 2 cm dispersion engineered silicon nanowire waveguide by pumping the waveguide with strong picoseconds pulses at 2.12 μm [1]. Furthermore we demonstrate broadband nonlinear optical amplification in the mid infrared up to 50 dB [2] in these silicon waveguides. By using this broadband parametric gain a silicon-based synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is constructed [3]. This OPO is tunable over 70 nm around a central wavelength of 2080 nm.Finally, we also demonstrate the use of higher order dispersion terms to get phase matching between optical signals at very different optical frequencies in silicon wire waveguides. In this way we demonstrate conversion of signals at 2.44 μm to the telecommunication band with efficiencies up to +19.5 dB [4]. One particularly attractive application of such wide conversion is the possibility of converting weak signals in the mid-IR to the telecom window after which they can be detected by a high-sensitivity telecom-band optical receiver.

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Towards lab-on-chip ultrasensitive ethanol detection using photonic crystal waveguide operating in the mid infrared

Nanophotonics ◽

10.1515/nanoph-2020-0576 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Ali Rostamian ◽

Ehsan Madadi-Kandjani ◽

Hamed Dalir ◽

Volker J. Sorger ◽

Ray T. Chen

Keyword(s):

Photonic Crystal ◽

Slow Light ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Guided Wave ◽

Silicon On Insulator ◽

Group Index ◽

Photonic Crystal Waveguide ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Lab On Chip ◽

On Chip

Abstract Thanks to the unique molecular fingerprints in the mid-infrared spectral region, absorption spectroscopy in this regime has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Contrary to commercially available infrared spectrometers, which are limited by being bulky and cost-intensive, laboratory-on-chip infrared spectrometers can offer sensor advancements including raw sensing performance in addition to use such as enhanced portability. Several platforms have been proposed in the past for on-chip ethanol detection. However, selective sensing with high sensitivity at room temperature has remained a challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an on-chip ethyl alcohol sensor based on a holey photonic crystal waveguide on silicon on insulator-based photonics sensing platform offering an enhanced photoabsorption thus improving sensitivity. This is achieved by designing and engineering an optical slow-light mode with a high group-index of n g = 73 and a strong localization of modal power in analyte, enabled by the photonic crystal waveguide structure. This approach includes a codesign paradigm that uniquely features an increased effective path length traversed by the guided wave through the to-be-sensed gas analyte. This PIC-based lab-on-chip sensor is exemplary, spectrally designed to operate at the center wavelength of 3.4 μm to match the peak absorbance for ethanol. However, the slow-light enhancement concept is universal offering to cover a wide design-window and spectral ranges towards sensing a plurality of gas species. Using the holey photonic crystal waveguide, we demonstrate the capability of achieving parts per billion levels of gas detection precision. High sensitivity combined with tailorable spectral range along with a compact form-factor enables a new class of portable photonic sensor platforms when combined with integrated with quantum cascade laser and detectors.

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Chaos of interband cascade lasers in the mid-infrared regime

10.21203/rs.3.rs-111694/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yu Deng ◽

Zhuo-Fei Fan ◽

Shiyuan Zhao ◽

Frédéric Grillot ◽

Cheng Wang

Keyword(s):

Semiconductor Lasers ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Optical Feedback ◽

Nonlinear Dynamical Systems ◽

Initial Conditions ◽

Electrical Power ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Light Sources ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Operation Conditions

Abstract Chaos in nonlinear dynamical systems is featured with irregular appearance and with high sensitivity to initial conditions. Near-infrared semiconductor lasers subject to optical feedback from an external reflector are popular chaotic light sources, which have enabled multiple applications. Here, we report the fully-developed chaos in a mid-infrared interband cascade laser with external optical feedback. The chaos leads to significant electrical power enhancement over a frequency span of 500 MHz. In addition, the laser also exhibits periodic oscillations or low-frequency fluctuations before producing chaos, depending on the operation conditions. This work paves the way for extending chaos investigations from the near-infrared regime to the mid-infrared regime, which can stimulate potential applications in this spectral range.

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Three-layer photoreceptor (Se-SeTe-Se) with high sensitivity in the long-wavelength region

IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices ◽

10.1109/t-ed.1984.21608 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 793-796 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

K. Tateishi ◽

Y. Hoshino

Keyword(s):

Wavelength Region ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Long Wavelength

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Development of Long Wavelength Light-Absorptive Homopolymers Based on Pentaazaphenalene by Regioselective Oxidative Polymerization

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13224021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 4021

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Watanabe ◽

Kazuo Tanaka ◽

Yoshiki Chujo

Keyword(s):

Energy Levels ◽

Oxidative Polymerization ◽

Computer Calculation ◽

Wavelength Region ◽

Electronic Interaction ◽

Absorption Bands ◽

Structural Isomers ◽

Long Wavelength ◽

Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital ◽

Wavelength Light

We report the synthesis and absorption properties of homopolymers consisting of 1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene (5AP). Oxidative polymerization in the Scholl reaction was accomplished, and various lengths of homopolymers can be isolated. It should be noted that we scarcely observed the generation of structural isomers at the connecting points, which is often observed in this type of reaction. Therefore, we were able to evaluate electronic structures of the synthesized homopolymers. In addition, it was observed that absorption bands were obtained in the longer wavelength region than the monomer. The computer calculation suggests that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels could be lowered by electronic interaction through spatially-separated HOMOs of 5AP. Moreover, we can evaluate the extension of the conjugated system through the meta-substituted skeleton and distance dependency of the main-chain conjugation.

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Prism-based Broadband Optical Cavity (400 – 1600 nm) for High-Sensitivity Trace Gas Sensing by Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-4213 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Weidong Chen ◽

Gaoxuan Wang ◽

Lingshuo Meng ◽

Qian Gou ◽

Azer Yalin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Gas Sensing ◽

Optical Cavity ◽

Wavelength Region ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Central Wavelength ◽

Enhanced Absorption ◽

High Reflectivity ◽

Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

High Finesse

The use of high reflectivity dielectric mirrors to form a high finesse optical cavity allows one to achieve long optical path lengths of up to several kilometres for high-sensitivity spectroscopy applications [1]. However, the high reflectivity of a dielectric mirror is achieved via constructive interference of the Fresnel reflection at the interfaces produced by multilayer coatings of alternate high and low refractive index materials. This wavelength-dependent coating limits the bandwidth of the mirror's high reflectivity to only a few percent of the designed central wavelength [2].In this paper, we report on the development of a novel optical cavity based on prism used as cavity reflector through total internal reflection combined with Brewster angle incidence [3], which offers a high-finesse optical cavity operating in a broadband wavelength region from 400 to longer than 1600 nm. Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (CEAS) of NO2, NO3, and H2O vapor was applied to determine the achieved prism reflectivity over a broad spectral range from 400 nm to 1600 nm.Experimental details and preliminary results will be presented. The developed prism-based cavity is specifically adapted for the needs of broadband measurement of multi-molecular absorber or/and wavelength-dependent extinction coefficient of aerosols over a broad spectral region.Acknowledgments. This work is supported by the French national research agency (ANR) under the CaPPA (ANR-10-LABX-005), the MABCaM (ANR-16-CE04-0009) and the MULTIPAS (ANR-16-CE04-0012) contracts. The authors thank the financial support from the CPER CLIMIBIO program.REFERENCES[1] S. S. Brown, "Absorption spectroscopy in high-finesse cavities for atmospheric studies", Chem. Rev. 103 (2003) 5219-5238.[2] G.R. Fowles, Introduction to Modern Optics, 2nd ed. (Rinehart and Winston, 1975), p. 328.[3] B. Lee, K. Lehmann, J. Taylor and A. Yalin, "A high-finesse broadband optical cavity using calcium fluoride prism retroreflectors", Opt. Express 22 (2014) 11583-11591.

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Infrared electric field sampled frequency comb spectroscopy

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aaw8794 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. eaaw8794 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Abijith S. Kowligy ◽

Henry Timmers ◽

Alexander J. Lind ◽

Ugaitz Elu ◽

Flavio C. Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electric Field ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Frequency Comb ◽

Ultrashort Pulses ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Laser Frequency ◽

Light Sources ◽

Mid Infrared

Probing matter with light in the mid-infrared provides unique insight into molecular composition, structure, and function with high sensitivity. However, laser spectroscopy in this spectral region lacks the broadband or tunable light sources and efficient detectors available in the visible or near-infrared. We overcome these challenges with an approach that unites a compact source of phase-stable, single-cycle, mid-infrared pulses with room temperature electric field–resolved detection at video rates. The ultrashort pulses correspond to laser frequency combs that span 3 to 27 μm (370 to 3333 cm−1), and are measured with dynamic range of >106 and spectral resolution as high as 0.003 cm−1. We highlight the brightness and coherence of our apparatus with gas-, liquid-, and solid-phase spectroscopy that extends over spectral bandwidths comparable to thermal or infrared synchrotron sources. This unique combination enables powerful avenues for rapid detection of biological, chemical, and physical properties of matter with molecular specificity.

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Low-loss silicon core fibre platform for mid-infrared nonlinear photonics

Light Science & Applications ◽

10.1038/s41377-019-0217-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Haonan Ren ◽

Li Shen ◽

Antoine F. J. Runge ◽

Thomas W. Hawkins ◽

John Ballato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wavelength Conversion ◽

Coupling Efficiency ◽

Silicon On Insulator ◽

Nonlinear Propagation ◽

Infrared Light ◽

Light Sources ◽

Space Communications ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Core Fibre ◽

Power Handling Capability

AbstractBroadband mid-infrared light sources are highly desired for wide-ranging applications that span free-space communications to spectroscopy. In recent years, silicon has attracted great interest as a platform for nonlinear optical wavelength conversion in this region, owing to its low losses (linear and nonlinear) and high stability. However, most research in this area has made use of small core waveguides fabricated from silicon-on-insulator platforms, which suffer from high absorption losses of the use of silica cladding, limiting their ability to generate light beyond 3 µm. Here, we design and demonstrate a compact silicon core, silica-clad waveguide platform that has low losses across the entire silicon transparency window. The waveguides are fabricated from a silicon core fibre that is tapered to engineer mode properties to ensure efficient nonlinear propagation in the core with minimal interaction of the mid-infrared light with the cladding. These waveguides exhibit many of the benefits of fibre platforms, such as a high coupling efficiency and power handling capability, allowing for the generation of mid-infrared supercontinuum spectra with high brightness and coherence spanning almost two octaves (1.6–5.3 µm).

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Development of a Long Period Fiber Grating Interrogation System Using a Multimode Laser Diode

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21030749 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 749

Author(s):

Luís Henrique Silva ◽

Paulo Santos ◽

Luís C. C. Coelho ◽

Pedro Jorge ◽

José Manuel Baptista

Keyword(s):

Laser Diode ◽

Measurement Errors ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Fiber Grating ◽

Light Sources ◽

Fiber Gratings ◽

Multimode Laser ◽

Central Wavelength ◽

Long Period ◽

Multimode Laser Diode

Optical fiber gratings have long shown their sensing capabilities. One of the main challenges, however, is the interrogation method applied, since typical systems tend to use broadband light sources with optical spectrum analyzers, laser scanning units or CCD (Charged Coupled Device) spectrometers. The following paper presents the development of an interrogation system, which explores the temperature response of a multimode laser diode, in order to interrogate long period fiber gratings. By performing a spectral sweep along one of its rejection bands, a discrete attenuation spectrum is created. Through a curve fitting technique, the original spectrum is restored. The built unit, while presenting a substantially reduced cost compared with typical interrogation systems, is capable of interrogating along a 10 nm window with measurement errors reaching minimum values as low as 0.4 nm, regarding the grating central wavelength, and 0.4 dB for its attenuation. Given its low cost and reduced dimensions, the developed system shows potential for slow-changing field applications.

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Highly Sensitive and Selective Sodium Ion Sensor Based on Silicon Nanowire Dual Gate Field-Effect Transistor

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21124213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 4213

Author(s):

Seong-Kun Cho ◽

Won-Ju Cho

Keyword(s):

Field Effect ◽

Field Effect Transistor ◽

Silicon Nanowire ◽

Silicon On Insulator ◽

Sodium Ion ◽

Ion Sensor ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Selective Membrane ◽

Dual Gate ◽

Effect Transistor

In this study, a highly sensitive and selective sodium ion sensor consisting of a dual-gate (DG) structured silicon nanowire (SiNW) field-effect transistor (FET) as the transducer and a sodium-selective membrane extended gate (EG) as the sensing unit was developed. The SiNW channel DG FET was fabricated through the dry etching of the silicon-on-insulator substrate by using electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers as a template for the SiNW pattern transfer. The selectivity and sensitivity of sodium to other ions were verified by constructing a sodium ion sensor, wherein the EG was electrically connected to the SiNW channel DG FET with a sodium-selective membrane. An extremely high sensitivity of 1464.66 mV/dec was obtained for a NaCl solution. The low sensitivities of the SiNW channel FET-based sodium ion sensor to CaCl2, KCl, and pH buffer solutions demonstrated its excellent selectivity. The reliability and stability of the sodium ion sensor were verified under non-ideal behaviors by analyzing the hysteresis and drift. Therefore, the SiNW channel DG FET-based sodium ion sensor, which comprises a sodium-selective membrane EG, can be applied to accurately detect sodium ions in the analyses of sweat or blood.

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