All-optical Integrated Switches Based on Azo-benzene Liquid Crystals on Silicon
Abstract
Objective of this project is the design and fabrication of optically controlled switches using LC doped with azobenzene groups, with large nonlinear optical response, embedded in SiO2/Si grooves able to operate at telecom wavelengths (1500-1600 nm). Such LC mixtures are commercially available from Beam Engineering able also to synthesize custom mixtures for research purposes. In particular some fast switching mixtures are promising to obtain photonic devices with submicrosecond time responses. Multiple input multiple output devices will be designed by using CAD tools already available. Device modeling will be carried out by using finite elements and FDTD techniques. Beam propagation techniques will be employed to simulate the optical waveguide behavior. The modeling will be used to design the photolithographic masks used to fabricate the device structures whose dimensions are in the sub-millimeter scale. Fabrication will be performed at CNR laboratories to which our group has access thanks to our collaboration with Dr. Beccherelli s group. The laboratories include cleanrooms equipped with laser beam systems for mask writing, high resolution photolithography and thin film deposition equipments. Device testing will be performed in our Optoelectronic Laboratory at the Department of Electronic Engineering. In the Optoelectronics Lab, optical benches with anti-vibration pneumatic suspensions are equipped with micro- and nano-translation stages for fiber optic coupling. Instrumentation useful for the measurements requested for this project is available such as fixed and tunable wavelength laser sources operating in the fiber optic C-band, an erbium doped fiber amplifier also used as broadband source, a picometer resolution optical spectrum analyzer, near infrared photodetectors, power meters, etc.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA552382
Entities
People
- Antonio D’alessandro