Signal reshaping and noise suppression using photonic crystal Fano structures.

We experimentally demonstrate the use of photonic crystal Fano resonances for reshaping optical data signals. We show that the combination of an asymmetric Fano resonance and carrier-induced nonlinear effects in a nanocavity can be used to realize a nonlinear power transfer function, which is a key functionality for optical signal regeneration, particularly for suppression of amplitude fluctuations of data signals. The experimental results are explained using simulations based on coupled-mode theory and also compared to the case of using conventional Lorentzian-shaped resonances.

Pulse carving using nanocavity-enhanced nonlinear effects in photonic crystal Fano structures.

We experimentally demonstrate the use of a photonic crystal Fano resonance for carving-out short pulses from long-duration input pulses. This is achieved by exploiting an asymmetric Fano resonance combined with carrier-induced nonlinear effects in a photonic crystal membrane structure. The use of a nanocavity concentrates the input field to a very small volume leading to an efficient nonlinear resonance shift that carves a short pulse out of the input pulse.

Low-loss high-confinement waveguides and microring resonators in AlGaAs-on-insulator.

AlGaAs is a promising material for integrated nonlinear photonics due to its intrinsic high nonlinearity. However, the challenging fabrication of deep etched AlGaAs devices makes it difficult to realize high-performance devices such as low-loss dispersion engineered waveguides and high-quality microring resonators. Here, we report a process to make high-quality AlGaAs-on-insulator (AlGaAsOI) wafers where high confinement waveguides can be realized.

Threshold Characteristics of Slow-Light Photonic Crystal Lasers.

The threshold properties of photonic crystal quantum dot lasers operating in the slow-light regime are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Measurements show that, in contrast to conventional lasers, the threshold gain attains a minimum value for a specific cavity length. The experimental results are explained by an analytical theory for the laser threshold that takes into account the effects of slow light and random disorder due to unavoidable fabrication imperfections.

Thermal analysis of line-defect photonic crystal lasers.

We report a systematic study of thermal effects in photonic crystal membrane lasers based on line-defect cavities. Two material platforms, InGaAsP and InP, are investigated experimentally and numerically. Lasers with quantum dot layers embedded in an InP membrane exhibit lasing at room temperature under CW optical pumping, whereas InGaAsP membranes only lase under pulsed conditions.