Temperature stabilization of optofluidic photonic crystal cavities

Abstract

We present a principle for the temperature stabilization of photonic crystal (PhC) cavities based on optofluidics. We introduce an analytic method enabling a specific mode of a cavity to be made wavelength insensitive to changes in ambient temperature. Using this analysis, we experimentally demonstrate a PhC cavity with a quality factor of Q≈15 000 that exhibits a temperature-independent resonance. Temperature-stable cavities constitute a major building block in the development of a large suite of applications from high-sensitivity sensor systems for chemical and biomedical applications to microlasers, optical filters, and switches.

Subwavelength grating periodic structures in silicon-on-insulator: a new type of microphotonic waveguide

“…In our study, we used silicon segments with SU-8 cladding material; however any materials can be interlaced for specific applications. For example, athermal waveguides [21,22] can be designed by interlacing materials with opposite polarity thermo-optic coefficients, while waveguide modulators or lasers may be implemented by making or interlacing waveguide core segments with a nonlinear optical material. This freedom in waveguide design suggests that subwavelength grating waveguides can be used in a broad range of applications.…”

Temperature Stabilization of Group Index in Silicon Slotted Photonic Crystal Waveguides

“…New compensation method for temperature sensitivity introduced by Chung et al [24] and Lee et al proposed the concept of controling temperature dependence of the properties of the slotted ring resonator devices [21]. Stabilization of optofluidic photonic crystal cavities has been demonstrated [25]. Here we show that if the suitable material is chosen and the structure is engineered properly, our proposed structure will be stable for temperature variation of up to 60℃.…”

Compact and Temperature Independent Electro-optic Switch Based on Slotted Silicon Photonic Crystal Directional Coupler

“…However, the thermal dependence of silicon's and polymer's refractive indexes are typically of different sign. So opposing the thermo-optic effect of the polymer can minimize or even eliminate the temperature dependence of the device for a given operating point [27,30]. We have shown that the designed structure is stable for temperature variation of   ℃.…”

“…Different sign of thermo-optic coefficients of the silicon and the polymer can compensate the refractive index variation and prevent undesired change in the switch behavior by temperature [27]. We have utilized this concept to achieve temperature stabilization of group index in silicon slotted photonic crystal waveguides [30].…”