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Electrically Tunable Dye Emission via Microcavity Integrated PDMS Gel Actuator
Markus Franke1, Irma Slowik2, Philipp J Mehner1
1Chair of Polymeric Microsystems, Institute of Semiconductors and Microsystems (IHM), Technische Universität Dresden , 01062 Dresden, Germany.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 8, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed an easy-to-fabricate, electrically tunable microcavity using PDMS gel. This platform achieves a 40 nm wavelength tuning range, paving the way for cost-efficient tunable lasers.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Micro-device Engineering
Background:
- Electrically tunable microcavities are crucial for tunable lasers used in telecommunications and spectroscopy.
- Existing microcavity fabrication methods often involve complex lithography and etching processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an easily fabricated, electrically tunable microcavity with a high quality factor (>1000).
- To demonstrate a tunable microcavity platform suitable for vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a Fabry-Pérot microcavity using ultrasoft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gel.
- Integration of a pyrromethene dye within the PDMS matrix as a gain medium.
- Utilizing a dielectric elastomer actuator to electrically tune the microcavity thickness and resonance wavelength.
Main Results:
- Achieved continuous, reversible tuning of the cavity resonance wavelength by 40 nm with a driving voltage of 70 V.
- Demonstrated a microcavity thickness variation of 1.3 μm (9%) using the integrated actuator.
- Confirmed tuning range limitations due to electrode bending via finite element method simulations.
Conclusions:
- The developed PDMS gel-based microcavity offers a simple, cost-efficient platform for tunable laser sources.
- The device exhibits efficient gain medium integration and a significant tuning range.
- Further research aims to build miniaturized laser sources with enhanced tuning capabilities.
