Intensity noise and bandwidth analysis of nanolasers via optical injection.

A measurement method that can be used to extract the relative intensity noise of a nanolaser is introduced and analyzed. The method is based on optical injection of emission from a nanolaser, serving as a master oscillator, transferring its intensity fluctuations to a low-noise semiconductor laser serving as a slave oscillator. Using the stochastic rate equation formalism, we demonstrate that the total relative intensity noise of the system is a weighted superposition of the relative intensity noise of individual lasers. We further discuss the analytical relations that can be used to extract the relative intensity noise spectrum of a nanolaser. Finally, we use mutual correlation as a mathematical tool to quantify the degree of resemblance between the injected and extracted intensity fluctuations, theoretically confirming that the spectra are at least 97% correlated within the 3-dB bandwidth when an injection strength is chosen properly.

Lasing action in low-resistance nanolasers based on tunnel junctions.

We experimentally demonstrate the lasing action of a new nanolaser design with a tunnel junction. By using a heavily doped tunnel junction for hole injection, we can replace the p-type contact material of a conventional nanolaser diode with a low-resistance n-type contact layer. This leads to a significant reduction of the device resistance and lowers the threshold voltage from 5 V to around 0.95 V at 77 K. The lasing behavior is verified by the light output versus the injection current (L-I) characterization and second-order coherence function measurements. Because of less Joule heating during current injection, the nanolaser can be operated at temperatures as high as 180 K under CW pumping. The incorporation of heavily doped tunnel junctions may pave the way for other nanoscale cavity design for improved heat management.

Extremely compact hybrid III-V/SOI lasers: design and fabrication approaches.

In this manuscript we discuss state of the art hybrid integration techniques and III-V/Si active components with an emphasis on hybrid distributed feedback (DFB) lasers for telecom applications. We review our work on ultra-compact III-V/Si DFB lasers and further describe design considerations and challenges associated with electrically pumped hybrid lasers. We conclude with a perspective on DFB lasers with extremely small footprint, a direction for future research with potential applications to densely-packed optical interconnects.

Using optical anisotropy as a quality factor to rapidly characterize structural qualities of large-area graphene films.

In this study, we find that the optical anisotropy of graphene films could be used as an alternative quality factor for the rapid characterization of large-area graphene films prepared through chemical vapor deposition. We develop an angle-variable spectroscopic method to rapidly determine the optical anisotropy of graphene films. Unlike approaches using Raman scattering spectroscopy, this optical anisotropy method allows ready characterization of the structural quality of large-area graphene samples without the application of high-intensity laser irradiation or complicated optical setups. Measurements of optical anisotropy also allow us to distinguish graphene samples with different extents of structural imperfections; the results are consistent with those obtained from using Raman scattering spectroscopy. In addition, we also study the properties of graphene-based transparent conductive films at wide incident angles because of the advantage of the optical anisotropic properties of graphene. The transmittance of graphene is much higher than that of indium tin oxide films, especially at large incident angles.

Microwave signal switching on a silicon photonic chip.

Microwave photonics uses light to carry and process microwave signals over a photonic link. However, light can instead be used as a stimulus to microwave devices that directly control microwave signals. Such optically controlled amplitude and phase-shift switches are investigated for use in reconfigurable microwave systems, but they suffer from large footprint, high optical power level required for switching, lack of scalability and complex integration requirements, restricting their implementation in practical microwave systems. Here, we report Monolithic Optically Reconfigurable Integrated Microwave Switches (MORIMSs) built on a CMOS compatible silicon photonic chip that addresses all of the stringent requirements. Our scalable micrometer-scale switches provide higher switching efficiency and require optical power orders of magnitude lower than the state-of-the-art. Also, it opens a new research direction on silicon photonic platforms integrating microwave circuitry. This work has important implications in reconfigurable microwave and millimeter wave devices for future communication networks.

Simple Nanoimprinted Polymer Nanostructures for Uncooled Thermal Detection by Direct Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging.

We experimentally demonstrate the uncooled detection of long wavelength infrared (IR) radiation by thermal surface plasmon sensing using an all optical readout format. Thermal infrared radiation absorbed by an IR-sensitive material with high thermo-optic coefficient coated on a metal grating creates a refractive index change detectable by the shift of the supported surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measured optically in the visible spectrum. The interface localization of SPR modes and optical readout allow for submicrometer thin film transducers and eliminate complex readout integrated circuits, respectively, reducing form factor, leveraging robust visible detectors, and enabling low-cost imaging cameras. We experimentally present the radiative heat induced thermo-optic action detectable by SPR shift through imaging of a thermal source onto a bulk metal grating substrate with IR-absorptive silicon nitride coating. Toward focal plane array integration, a route to facile fabrication of pixelated metal grating structures by nanoimprint lithography is developed, where a stable polymer, parylene-C, serves as an IR-absorptive layer with a high thermo-optic coefficient. Experimental detection of IR radiation from real thermal sources imaged at infinity is demonstrated by our nanoimprinted polymer-SPR pixels with an estimated noise equivalent temperature difference of 21.9 K.