Design and fabrication of photonic crystal quantum cascade lasers for optofluidics

Marko Lončar, Benjamin G. Lee, Laurent Diehl, Mikhail Belkin, Federico Capasso, Marcella Giovannini, Jérôme Faist, Emilio Gini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present novel designs and demonstrate a fabrication platform for electrically driven lasers based on high quality-factor photonic crystal cavities realized in mid-infrared quantum cascade laser material. The structures are based on deep-etched ridges with their sides perforated with photonic crystal lattice, using focused ion beam milling. In this way, a photonic gap is opened for the emitted TM polarized light. Detailed modeling and optimization of the optical properties of the lasers are presented, and their application in optofluidics is investigated. Porous photonic crystal quantum cascade lasers have potential for on-chip, intracavity chemical and biological sensing in fluids using mid infrared spectroscopy. These lasers can also be frequency tuned over a large spectral range by introducing transparent liquid in the photonic crystal holes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4499-4514
Number of pages16
JournalOptics Express
Volume15
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Apr 2007
Externally publishedYes

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