Engineered nanophotonic Raman amplifiers and lasers

摘要标题：工程纳米级光放大器和激光器非技术：硅光子学是目前光学科学技术研究和发展最活跃的领域之一。重要的是，硅光子学与现代电子技术兼容，而现代电子技术是计算机和通信的日常集成电路芯片的基础。推动这个项目，有必要为硅光子技术的硅基光产生有用的和经济的手段。我们计划通过在纳米结构硅薄膜上加入独特的光学共振效应来产生光来填补这一空白。因此，我们建议开发新的有源器件，即激光器和放大器，使这种基本效应成为可能。这可能会导致新型激光器作为硅光子芯片的光源，以及用于增强检测互联网数据传输中使用的光脉冲携带的输入信号的放大器。集成光子系统有望提高光通信的传输和处理速率。在该项目下，我们将评估迄今尚未应用于此目的的基本光子共振效应的效用，以实现先进的硅光产生。该项目为研究生提供了出色的分析和实验经验，从而支持下一代光子技术劳动力的发展。如果成功，该项目将带来具有巨大经济效益和社会价值的创新光产生和放大概念。技术：本研究的目的是设计、制造和表征一类新型有源纳米光子导模共振元件。具体来说，我们将研究由这种效应启用的拉曼放大器和激光器。这项研究的动机是拉曼发射可以通过这些高质量因子共振效应提高到高水平，这在纳米化硅薄膜中是可以实现的。我们提出了初步的器件设计，其中泵浦和拉曼激光波长的光谱位置在硅中达到适当的斯托克斯-拉曼位移。在这里，泵浦共振和激光共振具有较大的质量因子，相应的拉曼增益高，这是由两个因素的乘积决定的。这些元素将在硅-石英和硅-绝缘体材料系统中形成周期性纳米结构。我们通过计算发射光谱和伴随的内部光子场分布（包括局部场强）来研究这些器件中共振相互作用的基本方面。制备的器件将通过电子束和原子力显微镜进行表征，并测量其详细的光谱特性。斯托克斯-拉曼发射的效率，包括相对于泵浦的增益，将被量化相对于器件结构和输入泵配置。这个项目承担了基础性的纳米光子器件研究，如果成功的话，它在硅光子学领域的潜在应用将具有变革性。

Abstract title: Engineered nanoscale optical amplifiers and lasers Nontechnical:Silicon photonics is presently among the most active fields of research and development in optical science and technology. Importantly, silicon photonics is compatible with modern electronics technology on which everyday integrated circuit chips for computers and communications are based. Motivating this project, there is a need for useful and economic means for silicon-based light generation for silicon photonics technology. We plan to fill this void by engaging a unique optical resonance effect on nanostructured silicon films to generate light. Thus, we propose to develop new active devices, namely lasers and amplifiers, enabled by this fundamental effect. This can lead to new types of lasers serving as sources for silicon photonic chips as well as amplifiers for enhanced detection of incoming signals carried by light pulses as used in internet data transmission. Integrated photonic systems are expected to increase transmission and processing rates in optical communications. Under the project, we will evaluate the utility of fundamental photonic resonance effects, thus far not applied for this purpose, to enable advanced light generation in silicon. The project provides excellent analytical and experimental experience for graduate students thus supporting the development of the next-generation workforce in photonics technology. If successful, the project will led to innovative light generation and amplification concepts with substantial economic benefits and societal value. Technical:The objective of this research is to design, fabricate and characterize a new class of active nanophotonic guided-mode resonance elements. Specifically, we will investigate Raman amplifiers and lasers enabled by this effect. The research is motivated by the fact that Raman emission can be enhanced to high levels with these high-quality-factor resonance effects that are attainable in nanopatterned silicon films. We present preliminary device designs where the spectral placement of the pump and Raman lasing wavelengths achieves the proper Stokes-Raman shift in silicon. Here, the pump and lasing resonances have large quality factors with corresponding high Raman gain which is dominated by the product of the two factors. These elements will be fashioned as periodic nanostructures in the silicon-on-quartz and the silicon-on-insulator materials systems. We investigate fundamental aspects of the resonance interaction in these devices by computing emission spectra and attendant internal photonic field distributions including local field strengths. The fabricated devices will be characterized by electron-beam and atomic-force microscopy and their detailed spectral properties will be measured. The efficiency of the Stokes-Raman emission, including gain relative to pump, will be quantified relative to device architecture and input pump configuration. This project undertakes fundamental nanophotonic device research that is transformative, if successful, in view of potential applications in silicon photonics.