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Wavelength-scale stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry

Nature Photonics volume 1, pages 473–478 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Spectrometry is a general physical-analysis approach for investigating light–matter interactions. However, the complex designs of existing spectrometers render them resistant to simplification and miniaturization, both of which are vital for applications in micro- and nanotechnology and which are now undergoing intensive research. Stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry (SWIFTS)—an approach based on direct intensity detection of a standing wave resulting from either reflection (as in the principle of colour photography by Gabriel Lippmann) or counterpropagative interference phenomenon—is expected to be able to overcome this drawback. Here, we present a SWIFTS-based spectrometer relying on an original optical near-field detection method in which optical nanoprobes are used to sample directly the evanescent standing wave in the waveguide. Combined with integrated optics, we report a way of reducing the volume of the spectrometer to a few hundreds of cubic wavelengths. This is the first attempt, using SWIFTS, to produce a very small integrated one-dimensional spectrometer suitable for applications where microspectrometers are essential.

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Figure 1: Stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry.
Figure 2: s-SNOM observation of an interferogram in a waveguiding structure.
Figure 3: Nanowire structures.
Figure 4: Monochromatic illumination.
Figure 5: Polychromatic illumination.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Kostcheev for the electron-beam patterning of the scattering at the waveguide surface, A. Chalabaev and A. Bruyant for fruitful discussions, and G. Duvert for the SWIFTS's acronym.

This work was partially supported by the Centre National des Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the Région Champagne Ardennes, and is part of the strategic research programme on ‘Optical standing waves spectrometers and sensors’ of the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier, CNRS, BP 53, Grenoble, F38041, Cedex, France

    Etienne le Coarer & Pierre Kern

  2. Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et d'Instrumentation Optique, ICD, CNRS (FRE2848), Université Technologique de Troyes, BP 2060, Troyes, 10010, France

    Sylvain Blaize, Ilan Stefanon, Gilles Lérondel, Grégory Leblond & Pascal Royer

  3. Institut de Microélectronique d'Electromagnétisme et de Photonique, INPG-UJF-CNRS, (UMR5130), BP 257, Grenoble, 38016, Cedex, France

    Pierre Benech & Alain Morand

  4. CEA-LETI, Minatec 17 rue des Martyrs, Grenoble, F38054, Cedex, France

    Jean Marc Fedeli

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  1. Etienne le Coarer
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  2. Sylvain Blaize
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Correspondence to Etienne le Coarer or Sylvain Blaize.

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le Coarer, E., Blaize, S., Benech, P. et al. Wavelength-scale stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry. Nature Photon 1, 473–478 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2007.138

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