Embedded cavities and waveguides in three-dimensional silicon photonic crystals

Stephanie A. Rinne, Florencio García-Santamaría, Paul V. Braun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To fulfil the promise that complete-photonic-bandgap materials hold for optoelectronics applications, the incorporation of three-dimensionally engineered defects must be realized. Previous attempts to create and characterize such defects were limited because of fabrication challenges. Here we report the optical and structural characterization of complex submicrometre features of unprecedented quality within silicon inverse opals. High-resolution three-dimensional features are first formed within a silica colloidal crystal by means of two-photon polymerization, followed by a high-index replication step and removal of the opal template to yield embedded defects in three-dimensional silicon photonic crystals. We demonstrate the coupling of bandgap frequencies to resonant modes in planar optical cavities and the first waveguiding of near-infrared light around sharp bends in a complete-photonic-bandgap material.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)52-56
Number of pages5
JournalNature Photonics
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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