Reactive co-sputtering has been applied as a low-cost method for deposition of Al2O3:Er layers. Channel waveguide fabrication has been optimized and results in waveguides with low background losses (0.21 dB/cm), demonstrating the feasibility of realizing active photonic devices. A net optical gain of 0.84 dB/cm for a 1533-nm signal has been obtained in a 700-nm-thick Er-doped Al2O3 waveguide pu...

We present an analytical model that describes the limiting spectral performance of arrayed-waveguide-grating (AWG) spectrometers that incorporate slow-light methods. We show that the loss-limited spectral resolution of a slow-light grating-based spectrometer scales as the loss-group-index ratio of the waveguide array. We further show that one can achieve a spectral resolution of a few GHz using...

We demonstrate indirect photonic transitions in a silicon slow light photonic crystal waveguide. The transitions are driven by an optically generated refractive index front that moves along the waveguide and interacts with a signal pulse copropagating in the structure. We experimentally confirm a theoretical model which indicates that the ratio of the frequency and wave vector shifts associated...

In planar OLED structures, a signifi cant fraction of the internal light emission is trapped in guided modes. This trapped light is a major limitation on the external quantum effi ciency, and a number of studies have integrated photonic microstructures into OLEDs to improve the device effi ciency by extracting trapped light such as the substrate modes, [ 3 ] the waveguide modes [ 4 ] and the su...

We present a scheme for reversible and tunable on-chip optical mode conversion based on dynamic grating in a hybrid photonic-phononic waveguide. The dynamic grating is built up through the acousto-optic effect and the theoretical model of the optical mode conversion is developed by considering the geometrical deformation and refractive index change. Three kinds of mode conversions are able to b...

We present the design of two novel adiabatic tapered coupling structures that allow efficient and alignment tolerant mode conversion between a III-V membrane waveguide and a single-mode SOI waveguide in active heterogeneously integrated devices. Both proposed couplers employ a broad intermediate waveguide to facilitate highly alignment tolerant coupling. This robustness is needed to comply with...

In this study, we have investigated photonic crystal (PhC) nanocavities for biosensing applications. The device architecture consists of a PhC waveguide with a defect line for guiding the transmission of light. Resonant nanocavities are coupled to the PhC waveguide by changing the radius of a hole adjacent to the defect line. The devices are fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Prel...

Nanofabricated photonic materials offer opportunities for crafting the propagation and dispersion of light in matter. We demonstrate an experimental realization of a two-dimensional negative-index material in the blue-green region of the visible spectrum, substantiated by direct geometric visualization of negative refraction. Negative indices were achieved with the use of an ultrathin Au-Si3N4-...

The use of ultra-broadband supercontinuum generated by an all-fiber system to characterize high-index contrast photonic circuits over the wavelength range 1.2 - 2.0 microm is demonstrated. Efficient, broadband waveguide coupling techniques and sensitive normalized detection enable rapid and high-resolution measurements of nano-scale one-dimensional photonic crystal microcavities. Experimental m...

Enhanced third harmonic (TH) generation from Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) planar waveguides as well as SOI photonic crystal (PhC) slabs is studied in different angular configurations, both in the visible and infrared energy ranges. In the SOI planar waveguide, the multilayer structure causes the optical properties such as TH reflection to be different from those of bulk silicon samples. This beha...