[MOS] December 2, 2008

[Zina Queen]

Seminar on

Modern Optics and Spectroscopy


Light-matter interaction in nanophotonic devices

Marko Loncar, Harvard University

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.


Miniaturization and high-density integration of optical devices can 
enable fast, low-loss, compact photonic systems that operate at 
reduced power levels. I will review the design, fabrication and 
characterization of high quality factor photonic crystal cavities 
that are capable of confining photons to ultra-small volumes for long 
periods of time. These systems are of great practical interest in 
areas such as telecommunications, bio-chemical sensing and quantum 
information, for example. At the same time, nano-scale optical 
devices offer a unique opportunity to study the interaction of light 
matter on a nanoscale level.

In order to improve efficiency of quantum-emitters, in particular 
nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond nanocrystals (NCs), it 
is important to enhance their photon production rate as well as the 
collection efficiency of the emitted photons.  This can be achieved 
by embedding quantum emitters within optical cavities. I will 
describe 1-D photonic crystal nanocavities with theoretical Q larger 
than one million, fabricated in an air-bridge silicon-nitride 
(refractive index n=2). These nanocavities are designed to operate 
near 637 nm in order to strongly enhance the zero-phonon line (ZPL) 
emission of an NV center in diamond NCs while suppressing the 
in-plane emission into the phonon side-band. Our results indicate 
that strong coupling regime between a NV center in diamond 
nanocrystal embedded within the cavity and photons trapped in the 
cavity is possible. I will also discuss various nanophotonic 
structures fabricated in bulk single-crystal diamond, using both 
focused-ion beam milling and conventional fabrication techniques, 
that are suitable for enhanced collection of Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) 
color center photoluminescence.  Ultra-high Q photonic crystal 
resonators fabricated in suspended silicon beams, with experimental Q 
values on the order of one million, will also be discussed.


Grier Room, MIT Bldg 34-401
Refreshments served after the lecture
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