Determination of cavity length of cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance filter

Miniaturized guided-mode resonance laser based on a one-dimensional finite heterostructure cavity

Lasers based on the resonant nanostructures have attracted much attention due to their low threshold and compact dimensions. Guided-mode resonance (GMR) structures have been studied in lasing configurations because of their optical field enhancement and convenient free space excitation. However, the GMR inherently requires a larger footprint and is not suitable for high-density packaging. Here, we present numerical evidence of a miniaturized laser implemented in a one-dimensional finite heterostructure cavity (FHC). A GMR resonator and distributed Bragg reflectors are integrated to create the FHC, which enables the efficient coupling and localization of the electric field. Numerical findings indicate that the threshold is approximately 22.5 µJ/cm2, while the emission region is confined within a length of 5.4 µm. In addition, by adjusting the coupling strength, it is capable to achieve controllable lasing emission. The proposed structure provides a compact source for high-capacity optical communications, sensing, and quantum information processing.

Reflection characteristics of a cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance mirror for a microdiameter Gaussian beam

A guided-mode resonance mirror was designed for reflecting a vertically incident Gaussian beam of 3.6-µm beam waist to a backpropagating Gaussian beam. A grating coupler (GC) is integrated in a waveguide resonance cavity consisting of a pair of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) on a reflection substrate. An incident free-space wave is coupled by the GC into the waveguide, and the guided wave is resonated in the waveguide cavity and coupled out by the same GC to a free-space wave simultaneously in resonance condition. The reflection phase can vary by 2π rad, according to wavelength in a wavelength band of resonance. The grating fill factors of the GC were apodized to have a Gaussian profile in its coupling strength and resultantly maximize a Gaussian reflectance defined by the power ratio of backpropagating Gaussian beam to the incident Gaussian beam. The fill factors of the DBR were also apodized in the boundary zone to the GC in order to avoid discontinuity in equivalent refractive index distribution and resultant scattering loss. Guided-mode resonance mirrors were fabricated and characterized. The Gaussian reflectance of the mirror with the grating apodization was measured to be 90%, higher by 10% than that of the mirror without apodization. It is also demonstrated that the reflection phase changes more than π rad within wavelength band of 1 nm. The fill factor apodization narrows the resonance band.

Cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance band-stop reflector

A cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance filter (CRIGF) consists of a grating coupler inside a pair of distributed Bragg reflectors. A combination of a CRIGF with a high-reflection substrate can provide a new type of a band-stop reflector with a small aperture for a vertically incident wave from air. A narrow stopband was theoretically predicted and experimentally demonstrated. It was quantitatively shown that reflection spectra depended on optical-buffer-layer thickness. The reflector of 10-μm aperture was fabricated and characterized. The extinction ratio in reflectance was measured to be lower than -20 dB at a resonance wavelength. The bandwidth at -3 dB was 0.15 nm.

High-order modes in cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance filters (CRIGFs)

Cavity-resonator-integrated guided-mode resonance filters (CRIGFs) are optical filters based on weak coupling by a grating between a free-space propagating optical mode and a guided mode, like guided-mode resonance filters (GMRFs). As compared to GMRFs they offer narrowband reflection with small aperture and high angular acceptance. We report experimental characterization and theoretical modeling of unexpected high-order reflected modes in such devices. Using coupled-mode modeling and moiré analysis we provide physical insight on key mechanisms ruling CRIGF properties. This model could serve as a simple and efficient framework to design new reflectors with tailored spatial and spectral modal reflectivities.