Micro- and nano-cavity lasers for sensing applications

Lasers can be used for a multitude of sensing applications. This dissertation discusses two types of lasers for sensing applications. The use of an integrated vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and photodetector as a position sensor is first detailed. Design, fabrication, and simulation of the position sensing capabilities are discussed. The use of a grating as the position gauge ultimately makes the range of measurement very large. Experimental demonstration of position sensing and velocity sensing is shown. Photonic crystal membrane lasers, a type of nanoscale laser, are advantageous for sensing because of their compactness and ultra-small modal volume. Different aspects and properties of photonic crystal membrane lasers are discussed. The thermal characteristics of a photonic crystal laser are studied using a finite element method. Two new types of photonic crystal membrane cavity lasers are also presented and discussed: the decimated photonic crystal cavity and the heterostructure photonic crystal cavity. The later cavity is analyzed in greater detail via experiment and simulation. Progress towards creating an electrically injected photonic crystal emitter is also discussed. The materials design and fabrication technique are presented. Here, the devices are fabricated in the InGaAs/GaAs material system. An oxidation layer is used to create a current aperture as well as to provide index contrast to the photonic crystal membrane. Calculations pertaining to the quality factor of the cavities in the diode configuration are presented. A fabrication sequence and required process development is discussed, as well as progress toward laser diode fabrication.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Giannopoulos, Antonios

Contributors dc:contributor

• Choquette, Kent D.
• Carney, Paul S.
• Coleman, James J.
• Jin, Jianming
• Li, Xiuling

• Semiconductor Lasers
• Photonic Crystals

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Antonios Giannopoulos

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16080

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16080