Tamm metasurface lasers for sensing and datacomm applications

激光改变了世界：从测量和计量到通信和计算，它们已成为无处不在的半导体技术。垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSEL）通过半导体表面发射：它们非常适合传感，例如在自动驾驶汽车中测量距离。它们可以在晶圆级进行测试（不像边缘发射激光器（EEL），需要切割并需要非常平坦的切割面来操作），它们非常紧凑，并且可以比EEL更快地进行调制。VCSEL的全球市场在2021年价值14亿美元，预计到2029年将增长到57亿美元。我将展示一种新的VCSEL：Tamm辅助超表面发射激光器（TAMSEL）。这些器件将使半导体晶片的生产量比传统VCSEL设计增加50%，并且简单地通过可控地图案化由纳米级金属表面层光子晶体组成的“超表面”来提供激光器特性的生长后控制。它们有可能大幅提高调制速度，降低垂直发射激光器的功耗，并提供具有可操纵光束的“固态灯塔”。这些器件将在新兴的传感和通信市场中取代VCSEL。通过使用IQE有限公司的商业半导体晶片以及EPSRC国家外延设施（NEF）的定制生长晶片，我将开发与现有晶片制造技术兼容的激光器。我将与化合物半导体应用弹射器（CSAC）合作，将这些器件与商用传统VCSEL以及工业合作伙伴Vector Photonics（PCSEL领域领先的英国初创公司）的最先进PCSEL（光子晶体表面发射激光器）进行基准测试，以帮助将Tamm技术从实验室推向世界。

Lasers have changed the world: from measurement and metrology to communication and computing, they have become an ubiquitous semiconductor technology. Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) emit through the surface of the semiconductor: they are ideal for sensing, such as measuring distance in autonomous cars. They can be tested at wafer level (unlike edge emitting lasers (EELs) that need to be diced and require extremely flat cleaved facets to operate), they are highly compact, and can be modulated more rapidly than EELs. The global market for VCSELs was worth $1.4 billion in 2021, and is expected to grow to $5.7 billion by 2029.I will demonstrate a new kind of VCSEL: a Tamm Assisted Metasurface Surface Emitting Laser (TAMSEL). These devices will increase the manufacturing throughput of semiconductor wafers by 50% over conventional VCSEL designs, as well as offering post growth control of the laser properties simply by controllably patterning a "metasurface" comprised of a nanoscale metallic surface layer photonic crystal. They have the potential to drastically increase the modulation speed and reduce the power consumption of vertically emitting lasers, and to provide a "solid state lighthouse" with a steerable beam. These devices will provide a drop-in replacement for VCSELs in the burgeoning sensing and datacentre communications markets. By using both commercial semiconductor wafers from IQE Ltd, as well as custom-grown wafers from the EPSRC National Epitaxy Facility (NEF), I will develop lasers compatible with existing wafer manufacturing techniques. I will work with Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSAC) to benchmark these devices against commercially available traditional VCSELs as well as against state-of-the-art PCSELs (Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers) from industrial partner, Vector Photonics, the leading UK start-up in the PCSEL space, to help move Tamm technologies out of the lab and into the world.