Collaborative Research: Strain-Tunable Ge Nanomembrane Lasers

目的：该项目的目标是开发一种基于单晶半导体纳米膜的新型二极管激光器，具有几个潜在的变革属性。具体来说，这些器件，由于其极端的结构灵活性，可以在传统刚性半导体无法进入的环境中使用。它们的发射特性可以通过外部施加的机械应力来控制，例如，导致前所未有的波长可调性。此外，纳米膜的几何结构甚至可以允许在通常不适合这种目的的材料中产生激光振荡。特别是，该计划的重点是基于锗的纳米膜激光器的演示，其中拉伸应变可以产生直接的基本带隙，从而实现光学增益。智力优势：智力优势是由所提议设备的几个潜在破坏性应用提供的。纳米膜激光器通常可以在机械柔性光电系统中创造新的功能，例如传感器箔，智能服装和人造皮肤。此外，所提出的锗激光器可以直接制造在硅基微电子芯片上，作为一种手段，使电子学和光子学的集成达到前所未有的规模。更广泛的影响：相关的教育和课程发展活动提供了更广泛的影响。将强调本科生和高中实习生的研究参与，充分利用现有项目，重点关注代表性不足的少数民族。这项研究中更具创新性的主题也将被纳入pi教授的课程中。此外，上述应用可能最终对社会产生重要的利益，例如，通过创造全新的传感能力。

Objective: The objective of this program is to develop a novel family of diode lasers based on single-crystal semiconductor nanomembranes, featuring several potentially transformative attributes. Specifically, these devices, because of their extreme structural flexibility, could be employed in environments that are inaccessible to traditional rigid semiconductors. Their emission properties can be controlled with externally applied mechanical stress, e.g., leading to unprecedented wavelength tunability. Furthermore, the nanomembrane geometry may even allow for laser oscillation in materials that are normally inadequate to this purpose. In particular, this program is focused on the demonstration of nanomembrane lasers based on germanium, where tensile strain can produce a direct fundamental bandgap, thereby enabling optical gain. Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit is provided by several potentially disruptive applications of the proposed devices. Nanomembrane lasers in general can create novel functionalities in mechanically flexible optoelectronic systems, such as sensor foils, smart clothing, and artificial skin. Furthermore, the proposed Ge lasers could be directly fabricated on silicon-based microelectronic chips as a means to enable the integration of electronics and photonics at an unprecedented scale. Broader Impacts: The broader impacts are provided by related educational and curriculum development activities. The research involvement of undergraduates and high-school interns will be emphasized, leveraging existing programs with a strong focus on underrepresented minorities. The more innovative themes of this research will also be incorporated in courses taught by the PIs. Furthermore, the aforementioned applications may ultimately produce important benefits to society, e.g., by creating radically new sensing capabilities.