Erbium-doped slot waveguides containing size-controlled silicon nanocrystals

What is it about?

Transmitting digital data is achieved most efficiently by exchanging optical signals instead of sending electrical signals (i.e. current) along wires. Waveguides made of Silicon provide a way to transmit data optically on a microelectronic chip or between closely situated chips. Slot waveguides are a particular design that incorporates a thin layer inside the waveguide where optically active species, e.g. Erbium ions and Silicon nanocrystals, can be introduced and show enhanced optical activity. We report on the observation of one of the fundamental properties of a layered sample structure similar to a slot waveguide, namely its polarization-dependent enhancement of light, for both infrared light (at the typical data transmission wavelength) and visible light (which could be used for optical pumping of the infrared signal).

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