Active Silicon Nanophotonics based on Photonic Crystal with Quantum Dots

ALTAIR Center in cooperation with University of Rochester proposes to develop a new class of active nanophotonic devices based on quantum dots embedded into photonic crystal microstructures fabricated in silicon-on-insulator waveguides. Due to extremely strong nonlinear optical and electro-optical properties and extremely short switching times, the silicon-based photonic crystal microstructures with quantum dots can be used as key elements for design of various all-optical and electro-optical components enabling their on-chip integration with silicon microelectronics. In Phase I we will prove feasibility of the proposed concept by analytical and numerical studies, fabricate the proposed devices, perform the simplest proof-of-concept experiments, and will characterize basic optical properties of the proposed key elements of active silicon nanophotonics. We will also develop conceptual designs of all-optical switches, modulators, transistors, amplifiers and lasers based on the proposed concept. In Phase II, we will study electro-optical properties of the proposed elements. The technology will be completely optimized and applied to fabrication of the prototype nanophotonic devices enabling on-chip integration with silicon microelectronics.