Materials and devices for compact optical amplification in Si photonics

Abstract

Materials and devices.for compact optical amplification in Si photonics is reviewed. In particular, as the requirement for high gain per length together with high refractive index renders traditional oxide-based approach problematic, Er-doping of silicon-rich silicon nitride and erbium silicate nanocrystals are proposed and shown to be promising alternatives. Using such new materials, microdisk resonators and slot waveguides that concentrate the light in a compact volume for high functionality are fabricated and characterized.