The way to compact sensors is open
The developed device consists of highly efficient optical microresonators, which can become the basis for the creation of highly sensitive sensors, compact microlasers and components for quantum photonic systems. The results of the research have been published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
Microscopic “race track”
During the research, scientists created optical microresonators in the shape of a “racetrack” that can capture and amplify light in a highly efficient manner. A key innovation was the use of smooth curves inspired by road construction, minimizing energy loss and keeping photons inside the device longer.
The devices were fabricated with sub-nanometer precision using electron beam lithography in a clean room. The material used for the resonators was chalcogenide glass, a specialized semiconductor material with high transparency and nonlinearity. It should be noted that processing of chalcogenide glass is very difficult because of the material’s reduced hardness and its high sensitivity to scratches.
Testing with lasers confirmed the high quality of the devices, as evidenced by deep and narrow resonance peaks in the signal.
A microresonator is a microscopic structure designed to hold light in a small space. As the circulation of light builds up, its intensity increases. When the intensity reaches a sufficient level, scientists can conduct special optical experiments to study the sensory and other advanced functions of the devices.
Highly promising technology
The authors of the study are confident that the developed technology will find applications in many fields.
“Our work aims to utilize less optical energy with these resonators for future applications. Many photonic components such as lasers, modulators and detectors are currently being developed. Microresonators like ours will help bring all of these elements together,” said fourth-year doctoral student Bright Lu at the University of Colorado.
Technology based on optical microresonators could form the basis for a new generation of compact devices such as microlasers, highly sensitive chemical and biological sensors, and tools for quantum metrology. The scientists’ primary goal is to create scalable solutions that can be produced on an industrial scale in the future.
