High reflector microstructure for 1 micro continuous wave light

The objective of this STTR project is to design, analysis and fabrication of a cw high reflector microstructure for dielectric optical materials capable of reflecting greater than 99.5% of 1030 to 1070 nm light, while not reducing the transmission of the unaltered substrate in the rest of the MWIR, and LWIR (3 µm to 12 µm) spectral regions by more than 10% and not degrading the optical quality of the transmitted light significantly (SSIM greater than 0.9). Semergytech’s approach is based on the 2D photonic crystal membrane reflector (PC-MR) technique, developed by Prof. Zhou at University of Texas at Arlington. Based on Fano resonance principles in 2D PCS, high reflection or high transmission can be achieved under different resonance conditions. The proposed PCS approach has the following innovative features: (1) Compact single layer photonic crystal membrane reflector (PC-MR) structure; (2) High reflectance at 1030 to 1070 nm, and low impact on transmission at MWIR, LWIR; (3) Polarization insensitivity design; (4) Broadband reflector over different incident angles; (5) High LIDT for high energy lasers; (6) Scalable to large wafer scale; and (7) Potentially towards both flat and curved substrates applications.The research is based on the basic research advances over the last 20 years by Prof. Zhou on defect-free PCS cavities for free-space beam manipulation and light-matter interactions. The UTA PI and collaborators have contributed significantly to the emerging field of photonic crystal membrane photonics, based on Fano resonance principles in photonic crystals and transfer printed crystalline nanomembranes fabrication processes. The group is among the first in the world to demonstrate PC-MRs with both systematic theoretical investigations and experimental demonstrations. 1550 nm broadband PC-MRs were extensively investigated for the invention and demonstration of the MR-VCSELs on chip, a major breakthrough in silicon photonics and on-chip laser research.Performance trade-offs were also investigated for DBRs, SWGs, and PC-MRs. High performance 1550nm PC-MRs were demonstrated on silicon, glass, diamond substrates. Their polarization and angle dependent properties were investigated in detail.