Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 11-14-2019

Abstract

In this dissertation we demonstrate a new structure based on waveguide coupling atop a silicon wafer using a chirped grating to provide the dispersion that leads to a high-resolution, compact, fully integrable and CMOS-compatible spectrometer. Light is both analyzed and detected in a single, completely monolithic component which enables realizing a high-resolution portable spectrometer with an extremely compact footprint. The structure is comprised of a SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2 waveguide on top of a silicon wafer. Grating regions are fabricated on the top cladding of the waveguide. The input light is incident on a chirped grating area known as the collection area. Because of the local variation of the grating pitch across the collection area, different wavelengths of light are coupled into the waveguide at different lateral positions across the collection area. Guided light is then outcoupled through second grating region known as the detection area to the array of photodiodes placed either atop the second grating region or below the second grating region in silicon chip. Therefore, spectral information is encoded in the chirped grating coupler, which is fabricated in a single lithography step, independent of the number of channels. For these initial experiments, a separate detection array was used. In future iterations, these detectors can be integrated into the underlying silicon, resulting in a fully integrated spectrometer on a chip. Varying the input angle of the light will vary the measurement spectral range. This will result in an inexpensive spectrometer on chip, with adjustable resolution and spectral coverage controlled by the grating chirp and the input angle.

Degree Name

Optical Science and Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Optical Science and Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Steven Brueck

Second Committee Member

Payman Zarkesh-Ha

Third Committee Member

Arash Mafi

Fourth Committee Member

Tito Busani

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

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