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Integration of gigahertz-bandwidth semiconductor devices inside microstructured optical fibres

Nature Photonics volume 6, pages 174–179 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The prospect of an all-fibre optical communications network in which light can be generated, modulated and detected within the fibre itself1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 without the need for discrete optoelectronic devices is an appealing one. However, to become a reality, this approach requires the incorporation of optoelectronic materials and functionalities into silica fibres to create a new breed of semiconductor–fibre hybrid devices for performing various tasks. Here, we report the integration of precisely doped semiconductor materials and high-quality rectifying semiconductor junctions into microstructured optical fibres, enabling high-speed, in-fibre functionalities such as photodetection at telecommunications wavelengths. These semiconductor–fibre hybrid devices exhibit a bandwidth of up to 3 GHz and seamless coupling to standard single-mode optical fibres.

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Figure 1: Integration of semiconductor junctions in MOFs.
Figure 2: Fibre integrated, waveguiding, semiconductor optoelectronic junctions.
Figure 3: High-speed photodetection with in-fibre Pt/n-Si diodes.
Figure 4: Light coupling in Pt/Ge/Si junction integrated MOFs.
Figure 5: Optical loss spectra of Pt/Ge/Si junction integrated MOF.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank N. F. Baril, J. A. Calkins, D. W. Keefer, P. Horak and Y. Zeng for helpful discussions and technical assistance. This work was supported by the Pennsylvania State University Materials Research Institute Nano Fabrication Network and the National Science Foundation (NSF) (Cooperative Agreement no. 0335765), National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, with Cornell University. The authors thank the EPSRC (EP/G028273/1), NSF (DMR-0806860, DMR-1107894) and Penn State Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (NSF DMR-0820404) for financial support. A. C. Peacock is a holder of a Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Rongrui He, Justin R. Sparks & John V. Badding

  2. Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Rongrui He, Justin R. Sparks, Mahesh Krishnamurthi, Venkatraman Gopalan & John V. Badding

  3. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Pier J. A. Sazio, Anna C. Peacock & Noel Healy

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Mahesh Krishnamurthi & Venkatraman Gopalan

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  1. Rongrui He
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Contributions

R.H., V.G., P.J.A.S. and J.V.B. designed the research. R.H. carried out the experiments and analysed the data. A.C.P. provided simulation support. N.H., J.R.S. and M.K. assisted with experiments. R.H., P.J.A.S. and J.V.B. wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to the scientific discussion and revision of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to John V. Badding.

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He, R., Sazio, P., Peacock, A. et al. Integration of gigahertz-bandwidth semiconductor devices inside microstructured optical fibres. Nature Photon 6, 174–179 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2011.352

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