Applications for photonics are everywhere Displays Imaging Photovoltaics Lighting Communications ….
Photonics – a key enabling technology Physics Materials Technology Engineering Emerging applications for photonics Communications Medical Sensors LiDAR Access networks Backhaul for 5G Hyper-spectral imaging
Semiconductor photonics Layer Material Al fraction Thickness (nm) Doping 15 GaAs 150 > 2e19 14 AlGaAs 0.5 → 0.05 50 > 2e18 13 0.5 1100 1-2e18 12 100 2-4e17 11 0.2 → 0.5 70 - 10 0.2 5 9 5.8 8 7 6 4 3 0.5 → 0.2 1e18 → 1e17 2 1200 1 0 → 0.5 substrate n-type Devices Lasers, detectors, modulators, amplifiers, waveguides Layers of different crystal alloys Controlled thickness and doping P-N junction
Spectral coverage
Technology to make the devices
Recent Graduates Industry (NL) Researcher at Dimenco working on 3D displays Academia (IRL) Packaging of photonic components at Tyndall Academia (B) Postdoc in imec working on Silicon Photonic Technology Industry (NL) Device developer in integration at Effect Photonics Industry (NIRE) Process engineer at Seagate Industry (Wales) Senior Photonics Product Engineer at IQE Academia (USA) Postdoc in leading photodetector group Industry (LL) Senior engineer at ASML Industry (Eng) Engineer at Oclaro
Transfer printing Innovative way to integrate and assemble photonic components into circuits
Transfer coupons and make arrays of devices
Photovoltaic cells Lasers LEDs
Project I: Interface between computer and LED display We are making LED arrays of 50 x 50 elements, single colour Will make LED arrays of 500 x 500 x 3 colour Current for LEDs to provided through a driver chip (128x128x3) Project: Engineer image control by interfacing with the driver and the LED array. Balance image though assessing LED brightness and programming Find the best drive parameters; Map the characteristics of the array Need skills in electronics
Project II: Power transfer using lasers Optical power can be converted to electrical power with decent efficiency especially if at a single wavelength. EG 60% demonstrated with photovoltaic cells. Objective is to understand the use of lasers themselves as PV converters. Project Couple power from tuneable laser into large spot size waveguides (lasers) and record power conversion as a function of input optical power and wavelength for different cavity lengths. Requires use of programmable alignment stages and the collection of data. Analyse data (Isc, Voc, Fill Factor) and using knowledge gained design the best power converter. Need to learn about photovoltaic cells.
Questions? brian.corbett@tyndall.ie