Printed High Speed High Efficient Membrane Lasers
Abstract
The research objective here is to explore the physics and engineering of optical cavities and membrane printing processes for high performance optoelectronic and photonic devices, especially high speed, high wall-plug efficiency semiconductor membrane lasers, through hybrid integration of nano-scale materials (crystalline semiconductor nanomembranes and other novel materials) with photonic crystal cavities and other metamaterial cavities. Specifically, we propose to work in the following areas: (1) Ultra-compact membrane-reflector vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (MR-VCSELs) with low lasing threshold, high output power, high energy efficiency, and high speed operation; (2) Thermally engineered optical membrane structures for single mode large area high power lasers based on photonic crystal bandedge effect and printed QW membranes on Si photonic crystal cavities; (3) Scaling of high performance lasers towards truly attojoule nanolasers based on other novel membrane and 2D materials; (4) membrane transfer printing and pick-place technical based on the AutoAlign Micro-Optics Assembly and Characterization system to be acquired through an early equipment grant. All these devices and structures are critical devices for next generation integrated photonic/electronic systems, including ultra-compact high performance energy efficient nanolaser light sources for high speed data links, WDM optical interconnect for on-chip integrated photonics, UV-IR lasers for sensing and tactical communications, high power semiconductor lasers, and bio-integrated/inspired lasers and sensing, frequency selective structures. The research proposed here can also drastically boost the nanoscale-related research and STEM education capabilities at UTA, and to attract more students from under-represented groups into STEM careers. It will provide critical research training in the area of nanophotonics, optoelectronic and electronic materials, devices and systems for undergraduate and graduate students participating on the related research projects. Having such highly trained individuals in the workforce is critical to the economic well-being of the United States in both defense-related and other commercial industries that compete in the global marketplace. Thus the research proposed here will have direct and positive impact on the research training of both undergraduate and graduate students supported by this project in multi-disciplinary areas that are core of critical importance to DoD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 2016
- Source ID
- W911NF1510431
Entities
People
- Weidong Zhou
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas at Arlington