Thermal and Kerr nonlinear properties of plasma-deposited silicon nitride/ silicon dioxide waveguides
Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 17, pp. 12987-12994 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.012987
Acrobat PDF (679 KB)
Abstract
We introduce and present experimental evaluations of loss and nonlinear optical response in a waveguide and an optical resonator, both implemented with a silicon nitride/silicon dioxide material platform prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with dual frequency reactors that significantly reduce the stress and the consequent loss of the devices. We measure a relatively small loss of ~4dB/cm in the waveguides. The fabricated ring resonators in add-drop and all-pass arrangements demonstrate quality factors of Q=12,900 and 35,600. The resonators are used to measure both the thermal and ultrafast Kerr nonlinearities. The measured thermal nonlinearity is larger than expected, which is attributed to slower heat dissipation in the plasma-deposited silicon dioxide film. The n2 for silicon nitride that is unknown in the literature is measured, for the first time, as 2.4×10-15cm2/W, which is 10 times larger than that for silicon dioxide.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
V. R. Almeida, C. A. Barrios, R. R. Panepucci, and M. Lipson, “All-optical control of light on a silicon chip,” Nature 431, 1081–1084 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Tanabe, M. Notomi, S. Mitsugi, A. Shinya, and E. Kuramochi, “All-optical switches on a silicon chip realized using photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151112 (2005). [CrossRef]
V. R. Almeida, C. A. Barrios, R. R. Panepucci, and M. Lipson, “All-optical control of light on a silicon chip,” Nature 431, 1081–1084 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Tanabe, M. Notomi, S. Mitsugi, A. Shinya, and E. Kuramochi, “All-optical switches on a silicon chip realized using photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151112 (2005). [CrossRef]
T. Tanabe, M. Notomi, S. Mitsugi, A. Shinya, and E. Kuramochi, “All-optical switches on a silicon chip realized using photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151112 (2005). [CrossRef]
K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, “Nonlinear Fabry-Perot resonator with a silicon photonic crystal waveguide,” Opt. Lett. 31, 3486–3488 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, “Material and structural criteria for ultra-fast Kerr nonlinear switching in optical resonant cavities,” Solid-State Electron. 51, 1376–1380 (2007). [CrossRef]
T. Tanabe, K. Nishiguchi, A. Shinya, E. Kuramochi, K. Yamada, T. Tsuchizawa, T. Watanabe, and H. Fukuda, “Fast all-optical switching using ion-implanted silicon photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 031115 (2007). [CrossRef]
K. Ikeda, Y. Shen, and Y. Fainman, “Enhanced optical nonlinearity in amorphous silicon and its application to waveguide devices,” Opt. Express 15, 17761–17771 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Q. Lin, O. J. Painter, and G. P. Agrawal, “Nonlinear optical phenomena in silicon waveguides: modeling and applications,” Opt. Express 15, 16604–16644 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
W. Stutius and W. Streifer, “Silicon nitride films on silicon for optical waveguides,” Appl. Opt. 16, 3218–3222 (1977). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
W. Stutius and W. Streifer, “Silicon nitride films on silicon for optical waveguides,” Appl. Opt. 16, 3218–3222 (1977). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. P. van de Ven, I-W. Connick, and A. S. Harrus, “Advantages of dual frequency PECVD for deposition of ILD and passivation films,” Proc. IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnection Conference (VMIC) , 194–201 (1990) [CrossRef]
2. Fabrication of SiN/SiO2 waveguide and resonator
T. Barwicz, M. A. Popovic, M. R. Watts, P. T. Rakich, E. P. Ippen, and H. I. Smith, “Fabrication of Add-Drop Filters Based on Frequency-Matched Microring Resonators,” J. Ligthtwave Technol. 24, 2207–2218 (2006). [CrossRef]
W. Stutius and W. Streifer, “Silicon nitride films on silicon for optical waveguides,” Appl. Opt. 16, 3218–3222 (1977). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. Thermal nonlinearity
M. Notomi, A. Shinya, S. Mitsugi, G. Kira, E. Kuramochi, and T. Tanabe, “Optical bistable switching action of Si high-Q photonic-crystal nanocavities,” Opt. Express , 13, 2678–2687 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. Sheik-Bahae, A. A. Said, T.-H. Wei, D. J. Hagan, and E. W. Van Stryland, “Sensitive measurement of optical nonlinearities using a single beam,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760–769 (1990). [CrossRef]
C. A. Carter and J. M. Harris, “Comparison of models describing the thermal lens effect,” Appl. Opt. 23, 476–481 (1984). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Kerr nonlinearity
W. Henschel, Y. M. Georgiev, and H. Kurz, “Study of a high contrast process for hydrogen silsesquioxane as a negative tone electron beam resist,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 21, 2018–2025 (2003). [CrossRef]
L. F. Stokes, M. Chodorow, and H. J. Shaw, “All-single-mode fiber resonator,” Opt. Lett. 7, 288–290 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Boskovic, S. V. Chernikov, J. R. Taylor, L. Gruner-Nielsen, and O. A. Levring, “Direct continuous-wave measurement of n2 in various types of telecommunication fiber at 1.55 mu m,” Opt. Lett. 21, 1966–1968 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, “Material and structural criteria for ultra-fast Kerr nonlinear switching in optical resonant cavities,” Solid-State Electron. 51, 1376–1380 (2007). [CrossRef]
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References and links
V. R. Almeida, C. A. Barrios, R. R. Panepucci, and M. Lipson, “All-optical control of light on a silicon chip,” Nature 431, 1081–1084 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
T. Tanabe, M. Notomi, S. Mitsugi, A. Shinya, and E. Kuramochi, “All-optical switches on a silicon chip realized using photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151112 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, “Nonlinear Fabry-Perot resonator with a silicon photonic crystal waveguide,” Opt. Lett. 31, 3486–3488 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, “Material and structural criteria for ultra-fast Kerr nonlinear switching in optical resonant cavities,” Solid-State Electron. 51, 1376–1380 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
T. Tanabe, K. Nishiguchi, A. Shinya, E. Kuramochi, K. Yamada, T. Tsuchizawa, T. Watanabe, and H. Fukuda, “Fast all-optical switching using ion-implanted silicon photonic crystal nanocavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 031115 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
K. Ikeda, Y. Shen, and Y. Fainman, “Enhanced optical nonlinearity in amorphous silicon and its application to waveguide devices,” Opt. Express 15, 17761–17771 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
Q. Lin, O. J. Painter, and G. P. Agrawal, “Nonlinear optical phenomena in silicon waveguides: modeling and applications,” Opt. Express 15, 16604–16644 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
W. Stutius and W. Streifer, “Silicon nitride films on silicon for optical waveguides,” Appl. Opt. 16, 3218–3222 (1977). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. H. Henry, R. F. Kazarinov, H. J. Lee, K. J. Orlowsky, and L. E. Katz, “Low loss Si3N4-SiO2 optical waveguides on Si,” Appl. Opt. 26, 2621–2624, (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
N. Daldosso, M. Melchiorri, F. Riboli, M. Girardini, G. Pucker, M. Crivellari, P. Bellutti, A. Lui, and L. Pavesi, “Comparison Among Various Si3N4 Waveguide Geometries Grown Within a CMOS Fabrication Pilot Line,” J. Ligthtwave Technol. 22, 1734–1740 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
T. Barwicz, M. A. Popovic, M. R. Watts, P. T. Rakich, E. P. Ippen, and H. I. Smith, “Fabrication of Add-Drop Filters Based on Frequency-Matched Microring Resonators,” J. Ligthtwave Technol. 24, 2207–2218 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
E. P. van de Ven, I-W. Connick, and A. S. Harrus, “Advantages of dual frequency PECVD for deposition of ILD and passivation films,” Proc. IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnection Conference (VMIC) , 194–201 (1990) [CrossRef] | |
M. Notomi, A. Shinya, S. Mitsugi, G. Kira, E. Kuramochi, and T. Tanabe, “Optical bistable switching action of Si high-Q photonic-crystal nanocavities,” Opt. Express , 13, 2678–2687 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
M. Sheik-Bahae, A. A. Said, T.-H. Wei, D. J. Hagan, and E. W. Van Stryland, “Sensitive measurement of optical nonlinearities using a single beam,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760–769 (1990). [CrossRef] | |
C. A. Carter and J. M. Harris, “Comparison of models describing the thermal lens effect,” Appl. Opt. 23, 476–481 (1984). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
W. Henschel, Y. M. Georgiev, and H. Kurz, “Study of a high contrast process for hydrogen silsesquioxane as a negative tone electron beam resist,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 21, 2018–2025 (2003). [CrossRef] | |
L. F. Stokes, M. Chodorow, and H. J. Shaw, “All-single-mode fiber resonator,” Opt. Lett. 7, 288–290 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Boskovic, S. V. Chernikov, J. R. Taylor, L. Gruner-Nielsen, and O. A. Levring, “Direct continuous-wave measurement of n2 in various types of telecommunication fiber at 1.55 mu m,” Opt. Lett. 21, 1966–1968 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed] |
OCIS Codes
(130.3130) Integrated optics : Integrated optics materials
(160.4330) Materials : Nonlinear optical materials
(130.3990) Integrated optics : Micro-optical devices
ToC Category:
Integrated Optics
History
Original Manuscript: June 3, 2008
Revised Manuscript: August 3, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: August 4, 2008
Published: August 11, 2008
Citation
Kazuhiro Ikeda, Robert E. Saperstein, Nikola Alic, and Yeshaiahu Fainman, "Thermal and Kerr nonlinear properties of plasma-deposited silicon nitride/ silicon dioxide waveguides," Opt. Express 16, 12987-12994 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-17-12987
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References
- V. R. Almeida, C. A. Barrios, R. R. Panepucci and M. Lipson, "All-optical control of light on a silicon chip," Nature 431, 1081-1084 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- T. Tanabe, M. Notomi, S. Mitsugi, A. Shinya and E. Kuramochi, "All-optical switches on a silicon chip realized using photonic crystal nanocavities," Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151112 (2005). [CrossRef]
- K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, "Nonlinear Fabry-Perot resonator with a silicon photonic crystal waveguide," Opt. Lett. 31, 3486-3488 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K. Ikeda and Y. Fainman, "Material and structural criteria for ultra-fast Kerr nonlinear switching in optical resonant cavities," Solid-State Electron. 51, 1376-1380 (2007). [CrossRef]
- T. Tanabe, K. Nishiguchi, A. Shinya, E. Kuramochi, K. Yamada, T. Tsuchizawa, T. Watanabe and H. Fukuda, "Fast all-optical switching using ion-implanted silicon photonic crystal nanocavities," Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 031115 (2007). [CrossRef]
- K. Ikeda, Y. Shen and Y. Fainman, "Enhanced optical nonlinearity in amorphous silicon and its application to waveguide devices," Opt. Express 15, 17761-17771 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Q. Lin, O. J. Painter and G. P. Agrawal, "Nonlinear optical phenomena in silicon waveguides: modeling and applications," Opt. Express 15, 16604-16644 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- W. Stutius and W. Streifer, "Silicon nitride films on silicon for optical waveguides," Appl. Opt. 16, 3218-3222 (1977). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. H. Henry, R. F. Kazarinov, H. J. Lee, K. J. Orlowsky, and L. E. Katz, "Low loss Si3N4-SiO2 optical waveguides on Si," Appl. Opt. 26, 2621-2624, (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- N. Daldosso, M. Melchiorri, F. Riboli, M. Girardini, G. Pucker, M. Crivellari, P. Bellutti, A. Lui and L. Pavesi, "Comparison Among Various Si3N4 Waveguide Geometries Grown Within a CMOS Fabrication Pilot Line," J. Ligthtwave Technol. 22, 1734-1740 (2004). [CrossRef]
- T. Barwicz, M. A. Popovic, M. R. Watts, P. T. Rakich, E. P. Ippen and H. I. Smith, "Fabrication of Add-Drop Filters Based on Frequency-Matched Microring Resonators," J. Ligthtwave Technol. 24, 2207-2218 (2006). [CrossRef]
- E. P. van de Ven, I-W. Connick, and A. S. Harrus, "Advantages of dual frequency PECVD for deposition of ILD and passivation films," Proc. IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnection Conference (VMIC), 194-201 (1990) [CrossRef]
- M. Notomi, A. Shinya, S. Mitsugi, G. Kira, E. Kuramochi and T. Tanabe, "Optical bistable switching action of Si high-Q photonic-crystal nanocavities," Opt. Express, 13, 2678-2687 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- M. Sheik-Bahae, A. A. Said, T.-H. Wei, D. J. Hagan and E. W. Van Stryland, "Sensitive measurement of optical nonlinearities using a single beam," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760-769 (1990). [CrossRef]
- C. A. Carter and J. M. Harris, "Comparison of models describing the thermal lens effect," Appl. Opt. 23, 476-481 (1984). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- W. Henschel, Y. M. Georgiev and H. Kurz, "Study of a high contrast process for hydrogen silsesquioxane as a negative tone electron beam resist," J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 21, 2018-2025 (2003). [CrossRef]
- L. F. Stokes, M. Chodorow and H. J. Shaw, "All-single-mode fiber resonator," Opt. Lett. 7, 288- 290 (1982) [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Boskovic, S. V. Chernikov, J. R. Taylor, L. Gruner-Nielsen and O. A. Levring, "Direct continuous-wave measurement of n2 in various types of telecommunication fiber at 1.55 mu m," Opt. Lett. 21, 1966-1968 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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