Use of photonic jets produced by dielectric microspheres for increasing sensitivity and angle-of-view of MWIR detectors

Farzaneh Abolmaali; Aaron Brettin; Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos; Augustine M. Urbas; Vasily N. Astratov

doi:10.1117/12.2249729

20 February 2017 Use of photonic jets produced by dielectric microspheres for increasing sensitivity and angle-of-view of MWIR detectors

Farzaneh Abolmaali, Aaron Brettin, Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine M. Urbas, Vasily N. Astratov

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10107, Smart Photonic and Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits XIX; 101070V (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2249729
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Recently, it was experimentally demonstrated (K.W. Allen et al., APL 108, 241108 (2016)) that microspheres can be used as contact microlenses to enhance the efficiency of collection of light by individual pixels in mid wave infrared (MWIR) focal plane arrays (FPAs). In this work, using finite difference time domain (FDTD) modeling, we optimized the designs of such FPAs integrated with microspheres for achieving maximal angle of view (AOV) as a function of the index of refraction and diameter of the spheres. We also designed structures where the spheres are partly immersed in a layer of photoresist. Our designs are developed for both front-side and back-side illuminated structures. Compared to standard microlens arrays, our designs provide much larger angle of view reaching ~15 degrees for front-illuminated and ~4 degrees for back-illuminated structures. Our designs allow decreasing the sizes of photosensitive mesas down to wavelength-scale dimensions determined by the minimal waists of the focused beams produced by the dielectric microspheres, so-called photonic jets. This opens a principle possibility to reduce the dark current and increase the operating temperature of MWIR FPAs. We also discuss the techniques of fabrication of such FPAs integrated with a large number of microspheres and show that suction assembly of microspheres is a promising method of obtaining massive-scale integration of microspheres onto the individual pixels with very small concentration of defects.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Farzaneh Abolmaali, Aaron Brettin, Nicholaos I. Limberopoulos, Augustine M. Urbas, and Vasily N. Astratov "Use of photonic jets produced by dielectric microspheres for increasing sensitivity and angle-of-view of MWIR detectors", Proc. SPIE 10107, Smart Photonic and Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits XIX, 101070V (20 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2249729

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available