The work described in this thesis involves the measurements of the optical gain and amplified spontaneous emission (A.S.E) spectrum of Pb1-xSnxTe epilayers and the establishment of conditions under which optically pumped Pb1-xSnxTe laser using a CO2 laser as pump source can be produced. Pb1-xSnxTe epilayers have been grown by a hot wall epitaxy (HWE) technique on BaF2 single crystal substrates and the optical gain which can be produced in these layers has been measured by pumping the films transversely with a N2 laser. A model for optical gain and stimulated emission as a function of pump intensity has been developed which has permitted for the first time in these materials, a direct comparison between the magnitude of the gain pumping rate, and the optical gain generated. The measured optical gain is in very good agreement with the model predicted gain. Good fits to the measured stimulated emission spectra were also obtained from the model prediction. It is shown that the gain for a given pump wavelength has a drastic dependence on the material doping density. According to the model, CO2 laser optically pumped Pb1-xSnxTe laser can be readily achieved, provided that epilayer doping densities can be reduced to values of 1017 cm-3 or less. Nevertheless, doping densities even in nominally undoped layers are generally at least an order of magnitude too high. In some initial attempts to achieve lower doping densities, using a thermal annealing technique, doping densities as low as 2 x 10 17 cm-3 have been obtained and significant pump absorption was achieved at CO2 laser wavelength, as predicted by the model. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

The rapid development of optofluidics, the combination of microfluidics and integrated optics, since its formal conception in the early 2000's has aided in the advance of single-molecule analysis. The optofluidic platform discussed in this dissertation is called the liquid core anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide (LC-ARROW). This platform uses ARROW waveguides to orthogonally intersect a liquid core waveguide with solid core rib waveguides for the excitation of specifically labeled molecules and collection of fluorescence signal. Since conception, the LC-ARROW platform has demonstrated its effectiveness as a lab-on-a-chip fluorescence biosensor. However, until the addition of optical multiplexing excitation waveguides, the platform lacked a critical functionality for use in rapid disease diagnostics, namely the ability to simultaneously detect different types of molecules and particles. In disease diagnostics, the ability to multiplex, detect and identify multiple biomarkers simultaneously is paramount for a sensor to be used as a rapid diagnostic system. This work brings optofluidic multiplexing to the sensor through the implementation of three specific designs: (1) the Y-splitter was the first multi-spot excitation design implemented on the platform, although it did not have the ability to multiplex it served as a critical stepping stone and showed that multi-spot excitation could improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the platform by ~50,000 times; (2) a multimode interference (MMI) waveguide which took the multi-spot idea and then demonstrated spectral multiplexing capable of correctly identifying multiple diverse biomarkers simultaneously; and, (3) a Triple-Core design which incorporates excitation and collection along multiple liquid cores, enabling spatial multiplexing which increases the number of individual molecules to be identified concurrently with the MMI waveguide excitation. In addition to describing the development of optical multiplexing, this dissertation includes an investigation of another LC-ARROW based design that enables 2D bioparticle trapping, the Anti-Brownian Electrokinetic (ABEL) trap. This design demonstrates two-dimensional compensation of a particle's Brownian motion in solution. The capability to maintain a molecule suspended in solution over time enables the ability to gain a deeper understanding of cellular function and therapies based on molecular functions.

Le but de cette thèse est de développer les outils numériques et semi-analytiques qui nous permettent d’étudier des guides non-linéaires complexes et réalistes qui pourraient être fabriqués et caractérisés expérimentalement.Nous présentons une étude complète d’une version améliorée du guide d’onde plasmonique non-linéaire à une dimension, en ajoutant deux couches tampons de diélectrique linéaire entre le cœur non-linéaire isotrope et les deux gaines métalliques. Ses couches réduisent les pertes et permettent leur diminution avec la puissance contrairement aux guides simples. De plus, les principaux modes plasmoniques non-linéaires peuvent présenter une transition spatiale vers des modes de types différents, qui peut être contrôlée par la puissance.Par la suite, nous étudions un nouveau guide plasmonique non-linéaire à fente utilisant un métamatériau, soit dans le cœur non-linéaire soit dans les gaines linéaires. Nous avons mis au point une méthode semi-analytique et une méthode numérique afin d’étudier les solutions stationnaires non-linéaires dans ce nouveau guide non-linéaire anisotrope. Nous avons montré analytiquement et numériquement que le cœur non-linéaire anisotrope peut être conçu afin d’atteindre de forts effets non-linéaires à faible puissance. Pour certains métamatériaux dans les gaines linéaires, la figure de mérite de ce guide d’onde augmente de plus de 50 fois par rapport aux guides isotropes.Pour conclure, nous présentons une nouvelle méthode basée sur la méthode des éléments finis de type vectoriel couplée à l’algorithme à puissance fixée pouvant calculer rigoureusement les effets non-linéaires dans des guides d’onde plasmoniques 2D. / The main goal of this PhD is to develop the semi-analytical and the numerical tools that allow us to study complicated and realistic nonlinear plasmonic waveguides which can be fabricated and characterized experimentally.First, we present a full study of an improved version of the one-dimensional nonlinear plasmonic slot waveguide, by adding two linear dielectric buffer layers between the isotropic nonlinear core and the two metal claddings. These additional layers reduce the overall losses and allow the losses to decrease with the power for some configurations unlike the usual slot. Furthermore, the main plasmonic modes can exhibit nonlinear spatial modal transitions towards new families of modes that can be controlled with the power.Second, we propose and study new one-dimensional nonlinear plasmonic slot waveguides with metamaterial regions either in the nonlinear core or in the linear claddings. For the metamaterial nonlinear core, we developed semi-analytical and fully numerical methods in order to study the nonlinear stationary solutions propagating in this anisotropic nonlinear waveguide. We have demonstrated both analytically and numerically that the anisotropic nonlinear core can be designed in order to achieve strong nonlinear effects at low power.For the structures with metamaterial linear claddings, the figure of merit can be extremely enhanced by more than 50 times compared with the simple one. Finally, we present the full derivation of a new nonlinear full vectorial finite element method based on the fixed power algorithm in order to quantify rigorously the nonlinear characteristics of realistic two-dimensional nonlinear plasmonic structures.

Dans cette thèse nous étudions les propriétés d'ondes stationnaires dans des structures composées d'une couche diélectrique nonlinéaire de type Kerr et des couches métalliques et diélectriques linéaires. Nous élaborons différents modèles pour étudier les propriétées de plasmons-solitons dans deux types de structures : (i) une région diélectrique nonlinéaire semi-infinie, des couches de métal et de diélectrique linéaires et (ii) une couche de diélectrique nonlinéaire d'épaisseur finie entre deux régions métalliques (guide d'onde métallique à coeur nonlinéaire). Pour le premier type de structures, nous montrons qu'en utilisant une structure à quatre couches, il est possible d'obtenir des plasmons-solitons de basses puissance. Pour des guides d'onde métalliques à coeur nonlinéaire, nous trouvons de modes d'ordres supérieurs. Pour certains des modes symétriques, nous observons une bifurcation par brisure de symétrie donnant naissance à des modes asymétriques dans une structure symétrique. / In this PhD thesis, we study the properties of stationary transverse magnetic polarized waves in structures composed of a Kerr-type nonlinear dielectric layer, metal and linear dielectric layers. We develop several models to study the properties of plasmon-soliton waves in two types of structures: a semi-infinite nonlinear dielectric in contact with metal and linear dielectric layers and a finite-size nonlinear dielectric layer sandwiched between two metal regions (nonlinear slot waveguide). Our models allow us to compute the nonlinear dispersion relations and the corresponding field profiles. For the first type of structure, we prove that using the four-layer structures that we propose, it is possible to obtain plasmon-soliton waves at the power levels. For nonlinear slot waveguide structures, we discover the existence of new, higher order modes. For some of the symmetric modes, we observe a symmetry breaking bifurcation giving birth to asymmetric modes in symmetric structure.

El objetivo de esta tesis es la investigación de estructuras y técnicas de acoplo para minimizar las pérdidas de acoplo entre guías dieléctricas y cristales fotónicos planares. En primer lugar se ha estudiado el modelado del acoplo entre guías dieléctricas y guías en cristal fotónico así como la influencia de los principales parámetros del cristal en la eficiencia de acoplo. Se han obtenido expresiones cerradas para las matrices de reflexión y transmisión que caracterizan totalmente el scattering que ocurre en el interfaz formado entre una guía dieléctrica y una guía en cristal fotónico. A continuación y con el fin de mejorar la eficiencia de acoplo desde guías dieléctrica de anchura arbitraria, se ha propuesto como contribución original una técnica de acoplo basada en la introducción de defectos puntuales en el interior de una estructura de acoplo tipo cuña realizada en el cristal fotónico. Diferentes soluciones, incluida los algoritmos genéticos, han sido propuestas con el objetivo de conseguir el diseño óptimo de la configuración de defectos. Una vez conseguido un acoplo eficiente desde guías dieléctricas a guías en cristal fotónico, se ha investigado el acoplo en guías de cavidades acopladas. Como contribución original se ha propuesto una técnica de acoplo basada en la variación gradual del radio de los defectos situados entre cavidades adyacentes. Además, se ha realizado un riguroso análisis en el dominio del tiempo y la frecuencia de la propagación de pulsos en guías acopladas de longitud finita. Dicho estudio ha tenido como objetivo la caracterización de la influencia de la eficiencia del acoplo en los parámetros del pulso. Finalmente, se han presentado los procesos de fabricación y resultados experimentales de las estructuras de acoplo propuestas. / Sanchis Kilders, P. (2005). Coupling techniques between dielectric waveguides and planar photonic crystals [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/1854

Robust ion-exchanged glass waveguides exhibit low optical losses in a broad spectral range and they allow integration of several devices on the same chip due to their planar structure. Consequently, they can be a low cost alternative to semiconductors for fabricating various integrated optical devices. Two high performance photonic devices were designed and realized, demonstrating the potential of glass waveguides. The well-controlled silver-film ion-exchange process allowed the fabrication of: i) a highly sensitive biosensor based on optical absorption and, ii) a low loss hybrid electro-optic (EO) polymer modulator with a narrow coplanar electrode gap. The single-mode, channel integrated optical ion-exchange waveguide on borosilicate glass (Corning 0211) is described for broad spectral band (400-650 nm) detection and analysis of heme-containing protein films at a glass/water interface. The evanescent wave interaction is improved significantly by fabricating ion-exchange waveguides with a step-like index profile. Silver nano-particle formation is reduced in order to achieve low loss in the Soret-band (~400 nm). Unlike other surface-specific techniques (e.g. SPR, interferometry) that probe local refractive-index changes and therefore are susceptible to temperature fluctuations, the integrated optical waveguide absorption technique probes molecular-specific transition bands and is expected to be less vulnerable to environmental perturbations. The hybrid integration of phosphate glass (IOG-1) and EO polymer is realized for the first time. The critical alignment steps which are typically required for hybrid optoelectronic devices are eliminated with a simple alignment-free fabrication technique. The low loss adiabatic transition from glass to EO polymer waveguide is enabled by gray scale patterning of the novel EO polymer, AJLY. Total insertion loss of 5 dB and electrode gap of 8 μm is obtained for an optimized device design. EO polymer poling at 135 ºC and 75 V/μm is enabled by the sol-gel buffer layer.

La mission Darwin, un projet d'interférométrie spatiale initié par l'ESA, nécessite l'utilisation de filtres modaux fonctionnant dans la gamme spectrale [6-20 µm]. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous proposons la réalisation de filtres modaux basés sur des guides d'onde « tout tellurures » obtenus par la méthode d'empilement et de gravure. L'originalité de ce travail réside dans le fait que les guides réalisés sont de grandes dimensions (couches épaisses et profondeurs de gravure importantes), pour satisfaire aux exigences du projet. La première étape a donc consisté à choisir une méthode de dépôt qui permette d'obtenir des couches épaisses. La co-évaporation thermique a ainsi été mise en place et les paramètres de dépôt optimisés. Des couches d'épaisseur pouvant atteindre 17 µm, de bonne qualité (adhérentes, amorphes, denses et homogènes), transparentes de 6 à 20 µm et d'indice de réfraction contrôlé ont pu être obtenues. La gravure physique réactive (RIE) de ces couches, en utilisant un mélange gazeux CHF3/O2/Ar, a constitué la deuxième partie de ce travail. L'obtention de marches de profondeur pouvant dépasser 10 µm, présentant des profils de gravure de qualité, a été démontrée. Les différents guides d'onde IR réalisés ont été caractérisés optiquement après préparation de leurs faces d'entrée et de sortie. L'observation d'un bon confinement de la lumière sur un banc de guidage à λ = 10,6 µm et l'obtention d'un taux de réjection de 10-3 sur un banc d'interférométrie annulante nous ont permis de confirmer que les guides d'onde à base de couches tellurures et réalisés par la méthode d'empilement et de gravure constituaient une solution de choix en tant que filtres modaux pour l'interférométrie spatiale. / The Darwin mission, an interferometric spatial project initiated by ESA, requires modal filters being able to work in the whole spectral range [6-20 µm]. In the framework of this work, we propose the realization of modal filters based on waveguides obtained by stacking and etching chalcogenide films. The originality of this work lies in the fact that the realized waveguides have large dimensions (thick films and deep etching), to satisfy the project requirements. The first step consisted in choosing the deposition method which allows obtaining thick films. The thermal co-evaporation was setting up and the deposition parameters were optimized. Films with thickness which can reach 17 µm, of good quality (adhesive, amorphous, dense and homogeneous), transparent from 6 to 20 µm and with controlled refractive index were obtained. The physical reactive etching of these films, by using a gas mixture CHF3/O2/Ar, constituted the second part of this work. The obtaining of deep rib which can exceed 10 µm, presenting etching profiles of good quality was demonstrated. The elaborated IR waveguides were optically characterized after preparation of their entrance and exit faces. The observation of light confinement on a guiding bench at λ = 10.6 µm and the obtaining of a rejection rate of 10-3 on a nulling interferometry bench allowed confirming that the waveguides based on the stacking and etching of telluride films was a choice solution as modal filters for the spatial interferometry.

This thesis presents the development of integrated silicon photonic devices. These devices are compatible with the present and near future CMOS technology. High-khorizontal grating couplers and waveguides are proposed. This work consists of simulations and device design, as well as the layout for the fabrication process, device fabrication, process development, characterization instrument development and electro-optical characterizations. The work demonstrates an alternative solution to costly silicon-on-insulator photonics. The proposed solution uses bulk silicon wafers and thin film deposited waveguides. Back-end deposited horizontal slot grating couplers and waveguides are realized by multi-layers of amorphous silicon and high-k materials. The achievements of this work include: A theoretical study of fully etched slot grating couplers with Al2O3, HfO2 and AIN, an optical study of the high-k films with spectroscopic ellipsometry, an experimental demonstration of fully etched SiO2 single slot grating couplers and double slot Al2O3 grating couplers, a practical demonstration of horizontal double slot high-k waveguides, partially etched Al2O3 single slot grating couplers, a study of a scheme for integration of the double slot Al2O3  waveguides with selectively grown germanium PIN photodetectors, realization of test chips for the integrated germanium photodetectors, and study of integration with graphene photodetectors through embedding the graphene into a high-k slot layer. From an application point of view, these high-k slot waveguides add more functionality to the current silicon photonics. The presented devices can be used for low cost photonics applications. Also alternative optical materials can be used in the context of this photonics platform. With the robust design, the grating couplers result in improved yield and a more cost effective solution is realized for integration of the waveguides with the germanium and graphene photodetectors. / <p>QC 20141114</p>

O trabalho em questão mostra a possibilidade de produção de guias de onda por meio de filme finos de GeO2-PbO codopados com Tm3+/Yb3+, com e sem nanopartículas (NPs) de ouro, a partir da técnica de RF Magnetron Sputtering. Foram usados nos processos de fabricação dos guias de onda do tipo RIB e PEDESTAL, as mesmas técnicas empregadas na fabricação de dispositivos de microeletrônica, tais como, litografia e corrosão por plasma. A influência dos parâmetros dos processos de produção é reportada e a caracterização dos guias foi realizada por diversas técnicas. Dentre elas, destacamos a microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) para a observação do perfil dos guias, as rugosidades de superfície e as espessuras das camadas utilizadas para a confecção dos mesmos. Medidas de transmitância óptica realizadas nos filmes permitiram a determinação do coeficiente de absorção óptica e do índice de refração, de aproximadamente 2,0, além da confirmação das espessuras dos filmes obtidos por Sputtering. Guias do tipo RIB foram descartados por dificuldades enfrentadas durante o processo de fabricação. Medidas ópticas de perdas por propagação, realizadas em guias do tipo PEDESTAL, mostraram que os melhores guias produzidos apresentaram perdas em torno de 5 dB/cm em 633 e 1050 nm, e medidas de perfil de campo próximo, além da simulação dos modos propagados, o comportamento de guiamento multímodo. Ganho óptico em torno de 13,5 dB/cm (em 805 nm) foi obtido em guia com largura de 30 ?m e potência de bombeio estimada de ~75 mW. Guias contendo NPs de ouro foram produzidos por meio de metodologia adequada que permitiu a nucleação das NPs (tamanho médio de 20 nm) e um ganho 22 dB/cm em 805 nm, portanto, duas vezes superior ao mesmo guia sem NPs (30 ?m de largura). Os resultados apresentados demonstram que guias de onda GeO2-PbO codopados com Tm3+/Yb3+, com ou sem NPs metálicas, são promissores para aplicações em dispositivos fotônicos, com a criação de dispositivos amplificadores integrados para operação na 1° janela de telecomunicações. / The work in question shows the possibility of producing waveguides by means of Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped GeO2-PbO thin films, with or without gold nanoparticles (NPs), by using the RF Magnetron Sputtering technique. For the production of RIB and PEDESTAL type waveguides, the techniques employed in the manufacture of microelectronics devices, such as plasma etching and lithography, were employed. The influences of the production process parameters are reported and the waveguides characterization was performed by several techniques. Among them, we highlight the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which was used to observe the profile of the waveguides, the surface roughness and thickness of the layers used for their production. Measurements of thin films optical transmittance allowed the determination of the optical absorption coefficient and refractive index of approximately 2.0, and also the confirmation of the thin films thicknesses obtained by Sputtering. RIB type waveguides were discarded due to the difficulties during the manufacturing process. Optical measurements of propagation losses, held in the PEDESTAL type guides, showed losses around 5 dB/cm at 633 and 1050 nm, for the best waveguides produced, and near-field profile measurements in addition to the simulation of the propagating modes, showed multimode coupling behavior. Optical internal gain around 13.5 dB/cm (at 805 nm) was obtained in waveguide with 30 µm width at ~75 mW estimated power pumping. Waveguide containing gold NPs were produced using adequate methodology that allowed the NPs nucleation (average size of 20 nm) and 22 dB/cm gain at 805 nm, therefore, twice higher than the value obtained for the same waveguide without NPs (30 ?m width). These results show that Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped GeO2-PbO waveguides, with or without metallic NPs, are promising for applications in photonic devices, with the creation of integrated amplifiers devices for operation in the first telecommunications window.

Neste trabalho foram produzidos Interferômetros Mach-Zehnder (IMZ) a partir de guias de onda do tipo pedestal com filmes finos de Bi&#8322;O&#8323;-WO&#8323;-TeO&#8322; (BWT) como camada de núcleo para aplicações em sensores ópticos integrados. A influência dos parâmetros e dos materiais utilizados nas etapas de processo foi verificada. Os valores de índice de refração efetivo e coeficiente de absorção em função do comprimento de onda foram obtidos para os filmes finos BWT. Os guias de onda pedestais foram caracterizados por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura, medidas de perda por propagação e perfis de campo próximo em 633 nm e 1050 nm. Os valores mínimos obtidos nas perdas por propagação foram de ~1,5 dB/cm em 633 nm e 3,0 dB/cm em 1050 nm. As medidas de perfis de campo próximo mostraram que guias de onda com larguras superiores a 7 m apresentaram comportamento multimodo. Foram obtidos IMZs que apresentaram guiamento de luz por toda a estrutura, com comportamento multimodo. Sensores ópticos de pressão e temperatura foram produzidos. A fabricação de diafragmas através do processo de corrosão úmida do silício é apresentada no sensor de pressão. Sensores ópticos de temperatura foram produzidos com filamentos metálicos. As cavidades ópticas não foram obtidas nesse sensor. A potência de luz na saída dos sensores de temperatura foi medida em função da diferença de potencial aplicada no filamento metálico. Os resultados apresentados mostram que guias de onda do tipo pedestal produzidos com núcleo de BWT são promissores para aplicações em sensores ópticos integrados. / In this work Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (MZI) were produced from the pedestal-type waveguides with Bi&#8322;O&#8323;-WO&#8323;-TeO&#8322; (BWT) thin films as the core layer for applications in integrated optical sensors. The influence of the parameters and materials used in the process steps was verified. The values of the effective refractive index and absorption coefficient as a function of wavelength were obtained for the BWT thin films. The pedestal waveguides were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, by propagation loss measurements and near-field profiles at 633 nm and 1050 nm. The minimum values obtained by propagation losses were ~ 1.5 dB/cm at 633 nm and 3.0 dB/cm at 1050 nm. The measures of near-field profiles showed that waveguides with widths larger than 7 m presented multimode behavior. The MZIs obtained presented guiding light through the structure, with multimode behavior. Optical pressure sensors and temperature sensors were produced. The production of diaphragms using the wet etching process of silicon is presented on the pressure sensor. Optical temperature sensors were made with metallic filaments. Optical cavities were not obtained in this sensor. The light power in the output of the temperature sensors was measured as the voltage applied to the metal filament. The results show that the waveguides produced with pedestal-type and BWT thin films as core layer are promising for applications in integrated optical sensors.