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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
11:08
Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Wavelength scale terahertz two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides
Optics Express
|June 3, 2009
Summary
Researchers fabricated a terahertz-scale photonic-crystal waveguide on silicon-on-insulator. Optical transmission and terahertz beam propagation were measured, showing good agreement with simulations.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Nanophotonics
- Waveguide Technology
Background:
- Photonic-crystal waveguides offer unique light manipulation capabilities.
- Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platforms are widely used for integrated photonics.
- Terahertz (THz) frequencies present challenges and opportunities for optical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize a terahertz-scale two-dimensional photonic-crystal waveguide on an SOI platform.
- To investigate the optical transmission spectrum and terahertz beam propagation characteristics.
- To validate experimental results with theoretical calculations.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a two-dimensional photonic-crystal waveguide on silicon-on-insulator.
- Measurement of the optical transmission spectrum.
- Observation of terahertz beam propagation using a thermal imaging camera (10.1–10.7 microm incident light).
- Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D FDTD) calculations for comparison.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of the terahertz-scale photonic-crystal waveguide.
- Measured optical transmission spectrum obtained.
- Terahertz beam propagation characteristics visualized.
- Experimental transmission spectrum closely matched the 3D FDTD simulation results.
Conclusions:
- The fabricated photonic-crystal waveguide demonstrates effective terahertz light guiding.
- The results validate the use of SOI for terahertz photonic integrated circuits.
- The study confirms the accuracy of 3D FDTD methods for simulating such devices.
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