OPTICAL

CHARACTERIZACION OF
PLANAR SEMICONDUCTOR
MICROCAVITIES FOR
CAVITY SWITCHING
Defesa de tese
EXPERIMENTS– 2024

Francisco Simon Sanchís

Orientador: prof. Guilherme Penello Temporão

Co-Orientador: prof. Guilherme Monteiro Torelly
Summary
• Introduction

• Theory

• Optical Characterization
• y Experiments – CEA-Grenoble
Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy – FTIR
 Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS
 Simulations

• Cavity Switching
 Experimental results
 Simulations

• Conclusions
Previous Works

i
• Emanuel Peinke: “All-optical ultrafast switching of semiconductor
micropillar cavities : basics and applications to quantum optics” (2017) –
PhD Thesis

• Tobias Satler: “ Ultrafast switching of semiconductor microcavities for

quantum optics applications” (2018) – PhD Thesis

• Guilherme Torelly: “Characterization and applications of the ultrafast all-

optical switching of semiconductor microcavities” (2020) – PhD Thesis s –
CEA-Grenoble :
 Internship CEA – Grenoble
Emanuel Peinke: “All-optical ultrafast
switching of semiconductor micropillar
cavities : basics and applications to
quantum optics” (2017) – PhD Thesis
Tobias Satler: “ Ultrafast switching
of semiconductor microcavities for
quantum optics applications” (2018)
– PhD Thesis
Guilherme Torelly: “Characterization
and applications of the ultrafast all-
optical switching of semiconductor
microcavities” (2020) – PhD Thesis s
–

• CEA-Grenoble :
Internship between March and August 2022 at NPSC – PHELIQs – CEA-Grenoble

Optical Characterization of Planar Semiconductor Microcavities for Cavity Switching Experiments

Supervised by Jean-Michel Gérard

 Motivation
Changing the colour of light

• Variable shift
• On demand
• Fast and Efficient
• Single Photon Sources
• Applications on Quantum Communications

and Quantum Computation

– CEA-Grenoble :
Motivation
Lipson et al, Nat. Phot., 2007
• 30% wavelength conversion efficiency
• λ shift only depends on the pump power
• s – CEA-Grenoble :
Introduction
• Planar optical cavities
 Mirror reflectance
 Material –Refractive index (n)
 Dimensions (L)

• Cavity Switching
• Colour Change Experiments
Introduction
• Microcavities composed of Distributed Bragg Reflectors – DBR, and spacer in between

Stopband

Increasing the number of pairs in a

DBR increases the mirror reflectivity
and increasing the refractive index
contrast between the materials in
the Bragg pairs increases both the
reflectivity and the bandwidth.
Introduction
• Microcavities composed of Distributed Bragg Reflectors – DBR, and spacer in between
Stopband with Cavity
resonances Modes
UNIFORM CAVITY
 Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Sample

𝛌 /𝟒
TOP MIRROR
𝛌 /𝟒
𝛌 /𝟒
𝛌 /𝟒

SPACER 𝟑𝟑 𝛌

𝛌 /𝟒
BOTTOM MIRROR 𝛌 /𝟒
𝛌 /𝟒
𝛌 /𝟒

Sample grown at Thales R&D, Palaiseau, France

Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Sample

UNIFORM CAVITY GRADIENT CAVITY

1st Experiment: FTIR
Optical Characterization
of the Cavity
Stop Band – Cavity
Modes
Simon Sanchis & Sylvain
Perret
Experiments
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – FTIR

FTIR – Fourier Transform InfraRed  Absorption Spectroscopy

Reflectivity Measurement

The FTIR spectrometer uses an interferometer to

modulate the wavelength from a broadband infrared
source. A detector measures the intensity of
transmitting or reflected light as a function of
its wavelength. The signal obtained from the detector
is an interferogram, which must be analyzed by
a computer using Fourier transforms to obtain a
single-beam infrared spectrum. The FTIR spectra
are usually presented as plots of intensity versus
wavenumber (in cm-1). Wavenumber is the reciprocal
of the wavelength. The intensity can be plotted as the
percentage of light transmittance or absorbance
at each wavenumber
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Modes of the cavity

FTIR – Fourier Transform InfraRed  Absorption Spectroscopy

Room Temperature – 25ºC
Mode Energy FTIR Lorentzian Fit Origin (eV) λ FTIR Lorentzian Fit Origin (nm)
1 1.290 960.98
2 1.304 950.60
3 1.319 940.05
4 1.333 929.70
5 1.34797 919.78
6 1.362 910.14
7 1.376 901.21
8 1.389 892.79
9 1.401 885.27

Central Mode Energy:

GaAs
Band Gap

Central Mode Wavelength:

Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Modes of the cavity

FTIR – Fourier Transform InfraRed  Absorption Spectroscopy

Not enough spectral resolution for determining the Q of the modes

Spectral resolution better than 6.5 µeV or is necessary to

measure a Q of 200000.
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Dispersion models

Refractive index model

Ozaki and Adachi (1995) 3.5608

Rakic and Majewski (1996) 3.5473
Papatryfonos et al. (2021) 3.5193

K. Papatryfonos, T. Angelova, A. Brimont,
B. Reid, S. Guldin, P. R. Smith, M. Tang,
K. Li, A. J. Seeds, H. Liu, D. R. Selviah.
Refractive indices of MBE-grown AlxGa1-
xAs ternary alloys in the transparent
wavelength region, AIP Adv. 11
, 025327 (2021)
S. Ozaki and S. Adachi. Spectroscopic
ellipsometry and thermoreflectance of
GaAs, J. Appl. Phys. 78
, 3380-3386 (1995)
A. D. Rakić and M. L. Majewski.
Modeling the optical dielectric function
of GaAs and AlAs: Extension of
Adachi’s model, J. Appl. Phys. 80
, 5909-5914 (1996)

AlAs refractive index: Fern and Onton (1971)

Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Design
λ𝑐
Thickness of the cavity: 𝑊 𝑐𝑎𝑣 =33 ∙
𝑛𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠

λ𝑐
Thickness of the GaAs: 𝑊 𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 =
4 ∙ 𝑛𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠

λ𝑐
Thickness of the AlAs: 𝑊 𝐴𝑙𝐴𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 =
4 ∙ 𝑛 𝐴𝑙𝐴𝑠
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Design
λ𝑐
Thickness of the cavity: 𝑊 𝑐𝑎𝑣 =33 ∙
𝑛𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠

Refractive index model

Ozaki and Adachi (1995) 8.60091
Rakic and Majewski (1996) 8.55654
Papatryfonos et al. (2021) 8.62462

λ𝑐
Thickness of the GaAs: 𝑊 𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 =
4 ∙ 𝑛𝐺𝑎𝐴𝑠

Refractive index model

Ozaki and Adachi (1995) 64.576
Rakic and Majewski (1996) 64.822
Papatryfonos et al. (2021) 65.338

λ𝑐
Thickness of the AlAs: 𝑊 𝐴𝑙𝐴𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟 = = 𝟕𝟕 .𝟓𝟒𝟐 𝒏𝒎
4 ∙ 𝑛 𝐴𝑙𝐴𝑠
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Parameters

Temporal Confinement Spatial Confinement

Quality Factor Mode Radius

√
1
2 𝜋 ∙ 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝜋𝜆 𝑑 ( 𝑅1 𝑅 2 ) 4
𝑄= 𝑟 𝑒𝑓𝑓 =𝑎=
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 8𝑛
1 − ( 𝑅1 𝑅2 )
1
2

“Impact of Planar Microcavity

Not absorbing Effects on Light Extraction—
material Part I: Basic Concepts and
Q
Analytical Trends”, H. Benisty,
H. De Neve, and C. Weisbuch
𝜋 ( 2 𝑀 +6 )
𝑄=
𝑅 𝑡𝑜𝑝 + 𝑅𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚
1−
2
Reflectivity of
the mirrors
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Reflectivity

( )
Refractive index model (R)

( )
2𝑁 2
𝑛 𝑠 𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑤
1−
𝑛 0 𝑛 h𝑖𝑔h
𝑅= Ozaki and Adachi (1995)
( )
2𝑁
𝑛𝑠 𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑤
1+
𝑛0 𝑛h𝑖𝑔h

Rakic and Majewski (1996)

“Impact of Planar Microcavity

Effects on Light Extraction—
Part I: Basic Concepts and
Analytical Trends”, H. Benisty, Papatryfonos et al. (2021)
H. De Neve, and C. Weisbuch
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Q and r eff

Temporal Confinement Spatial Confinement

Quality Factor Mode Radius

√
𝜋 ( 2 𝑀 +6 ) 1
𝑄= 𝜋𝜆 𝑑 ( 𝑅1 𝑅 2 ) 4
𝑅 𝑡𝑜𝑝 + 𝑅𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑟 𝑒𝑓𝑓 =𝑎= 1
1− 8𝑛
2 1 − ( 𝑅1 𝑅2 ) 2

Refractive index model Refractive index model

Ozaki and Adachi (1995) Ozaki and Adachi (1995)

Rakic and Majewski (1996) Rakic and Majewski (1996)

Papatryfonos et al. (2021)

Papatryfonos et al. (2021)
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Thickness Gradient

Characterization of the Gradient of the cavity Measurements in several points of the cavity by FTIR
Simulations – Transfer Matrix Method – TMM (Matlab codes by Sylvain Perret)

Models of dispersion : Ozaki & Adachi (1995) ; Rakic & Majewski (1996)
2nd Experiment:
CRDS
Optical Characterization
of the Cavity
Storage time – Quality
Factor
Simon Sanchis & Sylvain
Perret
Experiments
 Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Bibliography

𝐶h𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐h𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝐿𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠

𝑆𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy - CRDS −𝛼𝑑
𝐼 0=𝐼 𝐿𝐴𝑆𝐸𝑅 𝑇 1 𝑇 2 𝑒
− 2𝛼 𝑑
𝐼 1= 𝐼 0 𝑅1 𝑅 2 𝑒

𝑛 𝑛 − 2𝑛 𝛼 𝑑
𝐼 𝑛= 𝐼 0 𝑅1 𝑅 2 𝑒

Ring-Down Time

𝒕 𝟐𝒅
𝑰 (𝒕)=𝑰𝟎 𝒆
−
𝝉 𝝉=
𝒄 ( 𝟐− 𝑹𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐 )

Ring-down: Measurement of the light emission’s decay time (τ).

Accurate determination of the Q-factor.

𝑄=𝜔𝜏
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Experimental Setup
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Treatment of experimental data

Fit – Convolution of Lorentzian

and decaying exponential
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Modes and Q at 293 K
942 nm 932 nm 921 nm

911 nm 901 nm 892 nm

 Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Modes and Q at 293 K

Mode τ (ps) 6th 5th

3rd 942 nm 84.94 ± 2.06 ps
4th 932 nm 118.08 ± 1.27 ps
5th 921 nm 137.09 ± 1.49 ps
6th 911 nm 138.22 ± 3.78 ps
7th 901 nm 103.45 ± 1.24 ps
8th 892 nm 21.42 ± 0.37 ps
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Modes and Q at 150 K

931 nm 920 nm 909 nm 899 nm

889 nm 879 nm 870 nm

 Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Modes and Q at 150 K

Decrease of Temperature  Blueshift

6th
Mode τ (ps)
5th
3rd 931 nm 79.09 ± 1.41 ps
4th 920 nm 112.39 ± 1.51 ps
106.40 ± 1.60 ps ; 120.34 ± 1.88 ps ; 122.13 ±
5th 909 nm
1.92 ps
6th 899 nm 114.98 ± 1.52 ps ; 132.33 ± 2.39 ps

7th 889 nm 107.70 ± 1.26 ps ; 116.66 ± 1.32 ps

8th 879 nm 95.16 ± 1.68 ps ; 96.85 ± 1.67 ps

9th 870 nm 66.21 ± 0.77 ps
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Modes as a function of temperature

Decrease of Temperature  Blueshift

Experimental data 10 K – 298 K G. Torelly Experimental data 230 K – 400 K

-0.117 meV/K -0.284 meV/K
Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Quality Factor as a function of temperature

Experimental data 10 K – 298 K G. Torelly Experimental data 230 K – 400 K

Simulations – FDTD – Matlab

Finite Differences to approximate spatial and temporal

1D – FDTD: Yee Algorithm derivatives that appear in Maxwell’s equations
3rd Experiment:
Cavity Switching
Colour Change
Experiments
Cavity Switching
Simon Sanchis & Sylvain
Perret
Experiments
Cavity Switching – Colour change experiments – Previous works

T. Satler (2017) G. Torelly (2019)

Cavity Switching – Colour change experiments – Experimental Setup
 Cavity Switching – Colour change experiments – Theoretical study

OPTICAL KERR EFFECT

⃑
[ ⃑𝑓 𝑞]
Carrier-induced change in refractive index
^
E field operator𝐸 𝑞=𝐸 𝜔 ( ⃗
𝑟 ) ^
𝑎 + ⃗
𝑓
∗
( ⃗
𝑟 ) ^
𝑎
∗
𝑞 𝑞 𝑞

Change in refractive index by injection of

free carriers

3 Effects
𝐸Field
Vacuum Electric 𝜔=
√ ❑
ℏ𝜔
2 𝜖 0 𝑉 𝑐𝑎
2
Volume of the mode 𝑐𝑎𝑣 ∫ | 𝑞 | 𝑟⃗
𝑉 = ⃑
𝑓 ( ⃗
𝑟 ) 𝑑3

𝑐 𝑎𝑣
• Bandfilling (Burnstein-Moss effect) 𝑉𝑜𝑙
• Bandgap Shrinkage
 Shape of the mode
• Free-carrier absorption

Changing n would be equivalent to changing the

The refractive index of an optical wave volume of the cavity, and by changing the volume
at is modified by the presence of a wave of the cavity you change the volume of vacuum
a fluctuations
GRADIENT CAVITY
4th Experiment: FTIR
Optical Characterization
of the Cavity
Thickness Gradient
Simon Sanchis & Sylvain
Perret
Experiments
Gradient Cavity – Thickness Gradient
 Gradient Cavity – Thickness Gradient – FTIR Experiment

Cavity
Gradient Side (x) - Lambda (nm) Not Gradient Side (y for x=0.5) - Lambda (nm)
Position

x, y (mm) 1st Mode 5th Mode 9th Mode 1st Mode 5th Mode 9th Mode
0.5 985.0493155 938.1075126 897.579372 985.0493155 938.107513

3 984.5423891 937.6279569 897.131333 985.1537332 938.165511

5.5 984.2536154 937.3424972 896.909331 985.2507956 938.227126

6.5 983.9739184 937.0883839 896.687439 985.2993339 938.253535

9.5 983.372547 936.4483977 896.229446 985.4158455 938.323966

12.5 982.6754321 935.8433526 895.668502 985.5420974 938.394407

13.5 982.4875524 935.6819699 895.532627 985.5809507 938.412019

17.25 981.872956 935.0173245 895.052018 985.7363944 938.588176

21 980.9920046 934.2720026 894.355268

Gradient Cavity – Thickness Gradient

𝝀 ( 𝒙 ,𝒚 )=− 𝟎.𝟏𝟖𝟕𝟒 𝒙 −𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟖𝟕𝟓 𝒚 +𝟗𝟑𝟖. 𝟏𝟗

CONCLUSIONS AND
FUTURE WORKS
 Conclusions

• High storage times and Quality Factors allowing Colour Change experiments.
• Try other fitting profiles for the ring-down times.
• Thickness gradient negligible.
• Ring-Down experiments with masks to improve Q.
Future Works

• Improve Transfer Matrix simulations.

• FDTD simulations to compare with Ring-Down results.
• Colour change experiments.
• Cavity switching simulations.
• Single Photon Sources  New sample/new experiments.
Thank you!!!
Theoretical calculation of optical cavity parameters and mode positions – Cavity structure

SEM – Scanning Electrons Microscopy measurement

Whole structure Top mirror Bottom mirror

Gradient Cavity – Thickness Gradient

Central Cavity Mode - Gradient vs Not Gradient Side

939
938.107512561963 938.500089157509 938.588175666163
938.323965732409 938.394407169333 938.412019181142
938.165511159479 938.227126022668 938.253534870193
938.107512561963
938
937.627956915245
937.342497168523
937.08838392736
937
936.44839771338

936 935.843352550253
935.681969932421

935.017324468496
935

934.272002642869

934

933

932
0.5 3 5.5 6.5 9.5 12.5 13.5 17.25 21

Series1 Series2
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Laboratory Notebook
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy – CRDS – Experimental Setup