SC322 Silicon Nanophotonics

Sunday, October 11, 2009
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Jelena Vuckovic; Edward L. Ginzton Lab, Stanford Univ., USA
Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description

Strong localization of light in nanophotonic structures leads to enhanced light-matter interaction, which can be employed in variety of applications, ranging from improved (higher speed, lower threshold) optoelectronic devices, to biophotonics, quantum information and low threshold nonlinear optics. In addition to these new or improved functionalities, such miniaturized photonic devices can also be integrated with high density on chip. In particular, it is interesting to explore combining nanophotonics with silicon to achieve a range of high performance silicon (preferably CMOS compatible) devices, including photodetectors, electro-optic modulators, optical switches, Raman lasers, LEDs and possibly even lasers.

This course will review interesting physics of nanophotonic devices (including Purcell effect and reduction of Raman lasing threshold) and describe the state of the art in active and passive silicon nanohotonics, including photonic crystals, plasmonic and microring resonators/slot waveguides platforms. Interesting applications of such devices in optical interconnects, quantum information processing and biosensing will also be discussed. Combination of silicon with other materials (including germanium, silicon nanoparticles, rare earth atoms, and colloidal quantum dots) as a route to build active devices (including lasers and amplifiers) will also be addressed.

Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

  • Understand physics of nanophotonic devices.
  • Understand benefits of employing nanophotonics for certain applications.
  • Discuss state of the art in silicon nanophotonics.

Intended Audience

Scientists and engineers interested in photonic devices in general. Some background in electromagnetics, quantum mechanics and optoelectronics is helpful but not required.

Instructor Biography

Jelena Vuckovic received her doctorate from Caltech in 2002. In 2003, she joined the Electrical Engineering Department and Ginzton Lab at Stanford University, where she is currently an associate professor and Chambers Faculty Scholar, and leads the nanoscale and quantum photonics research group. Her research focuses on experimental nanophotonics and quantum photonics, including photonic crystals and solid-state photonic quantum information systems. She has published more than 80 journal publications, seven book chapters, six issued and several pending U.S. patents, and given more than 100 invited talks. Vuckovic is also a recipient of several awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers—the highest honor for young scientists and engineers in the United States, the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the DARPA Young Faculty Award.