Low-loss Ge-rich Si0.2Ge0.8 waveguides for mid-infrared photonics (original) (raw)

Mid-infrared photonics in Si and Ge

Ingenious techniques are needed to extend group iv photonics from near-infrared to mid-infrared wavelengths. If achieved, the reward could be on-chip CMOS optoelectronic systems for use in spectroscopy, chemical and biological sensing, and free-space communications.

Ge-on-Si Photonics for Mid-infrared Sensing Applications

MRS Advances, 2016

ABSTRACTThere is significant interest to develop cheap CMOS compatible sensors that operate in the mid-infrared (MIR). To meet these requirements, Ge-on-Si is proving to be an exciting platform. There is the potential to realize waveguide integrated quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) based on Ge quantum wells (QWs). Intersubband absorption from p-Ge QWs has been demonstrated in the important atmospheric transmission window of 8-13 μm. An alternative strategy for sensing in the MIR is demonstrated through highly n-type doped Ge plasmonic antennas. These antennas demonstrate vibrational sensing of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) spin coated layers at 12.5 μm wavelength. These demonstrate enhanced sensing capabilities due to the localized hot spots of the antenna resonant modes.

Silicon-based Photonic Integrated Circuits for the Mid-infrared

Procedia Engineering, 2016

Silicon-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs) operating in the mid-infrared wavelength range are presented. Firstly, it is shown that the operation of the SOI-based waveguide circuits can be pushed beyond the telecom window till a wavelength of 4 µm. Ge-on-Si based PICs are demonstrated for operation beyond 4 µm wavelength. Low-loss waveguides and integrated spectrometers are reported for both the waveguide platforms. We also present our results on efficient thermo-optic phase shifters for germanium waveguide circuits.

Low loss SiGe graded index waveguides for mid-IR applications

Optics Express, 2014

In the last few years Mid InfraRed (MIR) photonics has received renewed interest for a variety of commercial, scientific and military applications. This paper reports the design, the fabrication and the characterization of SiGe/Si based graded index waveguides and photonics integrated devices. The thickness and the Ge concentration of the core layer were optimized to cover the full [3 -8 µm] band. The developed SiGe/Si stack has been used to fabricate straight waveguides and basic optical functions such as Y-junction, crossings and couplers. Straight waveguides showed losses as low as 1 dB/cm at λ = 4.5 µm and 2 dB/cm at 7.4 µm. Likewise straight waveguides, basic functions exhibit nearly theoretical behavior with losses compatible with the implementation of more complex functions in integrated photonics circuits. To the best of our knowledge, the performances of those Mid-IR waveguides significantly exceed the state of the art, confirming the feasibility of using graded SiGe/Si devices in a wide range of wavelengths. These results represent a capital breakthrough to develop a photonic platform working in the Mid-IR range.

Low-loss germanium strip waveguides on silicon for the mid-infrared

Optics Letters, 2012

Mid-infrared photonics in silicon needs low-loss integrated waveguides. While monocrystalline germanium waveguides on silicon have been proposed, experimental realization has not been reported. Here we demonstrate a germanium strip waveguide on a silicon substrate. It is designed for single mode transmission of light in transverse magnetic (TM) polarization generated from quantum cascade lasers at a wavelength of 5.8 μm. The propagation losses were measured with the Fabry-Perot resonance method. The lowest achieved propagation loss is 2.5 dB=cm, while the bending loss is measured to be 0.12 dB for a 90°bend with a radius of 115 μm.

Integration of Mid-Infrared Light Sources on Silicon-Based Waveguide Platforms in 3.5–4.7 μm Wavelength Range

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2019

Mid-infrared light sources are attracting attention for use in spectroscopic sensing, thermal imaging, and infrared countermeasures. Integration of these sources on Si-based waveguides allows for more functional and complex photonic circuits to be integrated on a single chip. This paper focuses on the key aspects of this integrated platform. The operation of silicon-on-insulator waveguides beyond 4.0 µm wavelength with increasing waveguide core thickness is discussed, and the effects of various cladding materials on waveguide propagation loss is demonstrated. Low loss waveguides and Mach-Zehnder interferometers in Ge-on-Si waveguide platform are discussed and beam combiners in the form of arrayed waveguide gratings are demonstrated in both the platforms. Interband cascade lasers are integrated on silicon-oninsulator waveguides with direct bonding to realize Fabry-Perot lasers. Power scaling of integrated lasers is validated by integrating quantum cascade lasers with silicon-on-insulator beam combiners. Results for the first integrated Fabry-Perot quantum cascade lasers on Ge-on-Si waveguides are discussed, together with the potential use of these waveguides to provide a better heat sink for integrated mid-infrared light sources.

Low loss silicon waveguides for the mid-infrared

Optics Express, 2011

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) has been used as a platform for nearinfrared photonic devices for more than twenty years. Longer wavelengths, however, may be problematic for SOI due to higher absorption loss in silicon dioxide. In this paper we report propagation loss measurements for the longest wavelength used so far on SOI platform. We show that propagation losses of 0.6-0.7 dB/cm can be achieved at a wavelength of 3.39 µm. We also report propagation loss measurements for silicon on porous silicon (SiPSi) waveguides at the same wavelength.

Near-infrared waveguide photodetectors based on polycrystalline Ge on silicon-on-insulator substrates

Optical Materials, 2001

Polycrystalline germanium thermally evaporated on silicon has been demonstrated as a feasible way to the integration of fast near-infrared photodetectors and functional devices on silicon. However, the use of such devices is currently limited to applications which do not depend critically on responsivity. Several attempts are under investigation to overcome the problem: one of the most promising is the integration of a poly-Ge photodetector with a waveguiding structure. This approach allows the distributed absorption of the incoming light in the thin sensitive layer of the poly-Ge/Si heterojunction, thus increasing the eective absorption length and eciency. Ó

Ge-Rich Graded-Index SiGe Alloys: Exploring a Versatile Platform for mid-IR Photonics

2018 20th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), 2018

In this paper, the recent progress on a new Ge-rich SiGe platform for mid-IR integrated photonics is presented. Low-loss spiral waveguides working over a broadband wavelength range are discussed, followed by a sensing proof-of-concept using a standalone photoresist with a known spectral absorption pattern. In addition, the development of new mid-IR interferometric devices for wavelength filtering and enhancement of the light-matter interaction are presented. Finally, efficient designs to exploit the third-order nonlinearities in these Ge-rich SiGe waveguides at mid-IR wavelengths are shown. The demonstration of these key building blocks will pave the way towards the implementation of new mid-IR photonic integrated systems with multiple functionalities.

High-contrast, all-silicon waveguiding platform for ultra-broadband mid-infrared photonics

Applied Physics Letters, 2013

Suspended silicon-membrane ridge waveguides are fabricated and characterized on a single-material photonic device platform. By using direct bonding, a thin layer of silicon is fused to a bulk silicon substrate, which is patterned with narrow trenches. Waveguides are etched on the resulting suspended membranes and are characterized at mid-and near-infrared wavelengths. Transverse magnetic-mode propagation losses of 2.8 6 0.5 and 5.6 6 0.3 dB/cm at 3.39 and 1.53 lm wavelengths are measured, respectively. This all-silicon optical platform is capable of continuous low-loss waveguiding from wavelengths of 1.2-8.5 lm, enabling numerous applications in frequency conversion and spectral analysis. V