Optical gain in silicon nanocrystals

Lorenzo Pavesi; Luca Dal Negro; Massimo Cazzanelli; Georg Pucker; Zeno Gaburro; G. C. Prakash; G. Franzo; Franceso Priolo

doi:10.1117/12.426932

18 May 2001 Optical gain in silicon nanocrystals

Lorenzo Pavesi, Luca Dal Negro, Massimo Cazzanelli, Georg Pucker, Zeno Gaburro, G. C. Prakash, G. Franzo, Franceso Priolo

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4293, Silicon-based and Hybrid Optoelectronics III; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.426932
Event: Symposium on Integrated Optics, 2001, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Silicon nanocrystals, formed by ion implantation and subsequent thermal annealing, show positive optical gain under intense laser excitation. Gain has been measured by the variable strip length method where the amplified spontaneous emission intensity, which is emitted from the sample edge, is measured as a function of the excitation volume. Exponential increase, line narrowing and directionality of stimulated emission have been measured. In addition, by growing silicon nanocrystals in a quartz substrate, single pass gain in pump and probe transmission experiments has been measured. Material gain values as high as those typically found in III-V semiconductors quantum dots have been measured. We claim that population inversion is realized between the fundamental and the recently identified Si equals O interface state. This model explains the gain observations and could account for the lack of auger saturation, free carrier absorption and size dispersion. Critical issues to obtain sizable gain are (1) high oxide quality, (2) high areal density of silicon nanocrystals, and (3) nanocrystals placed in the core region of a waveguide.

Citation Download Citation

Lorenzo Pavesi, Luca Dal Negro, Massimo Cazzanelli, Georg Pucker, Zeno Gaburro, G. C. Prakash, G. Franzo, and Franceso Priolo "Optical gain in silicon nanocrystals", Proc. SPIE 4293, Silicon-based and Hybrid Optoelectronics III, (18 May 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.426932

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