Future directions and new emphasis in photonics at NUI-UCC

2003

YEAR BOOK

Home Page	Table of contents	Index by Author	Index by topics
	Search

University College Cork

John McInerney

Future directions and new emphasis in photonics at NUI-UCC

Atomic force micrograph of self-assembled quantum dots grown at the University of New Mexico, USA. These dots can be incorporated into the active region of a laser, amplifier, modulator, detector or other photonic device to modify the gain, absorption, index change or other key properties. They combine the advantages of atomic and semiconductor media.

Telecommunication, the most visible success of photonics, will remain important in the long term. Expect new emphasis on biomedical and other applications, and continued emphasis on basic research. The photonics teams in the Physics Department at UCC are at the forefront of these advances, with emphasis on the physics of semiconductor lasers and photonic systems.

The information society requires ubiquitous local communications and data flows. Systems need to be simple, elegant and inexpensive. This requires fundamental developments in the physics and engineering of photonic systems, specifically novel media such as quantum dots and photonic crystals, as well as materials and processes for manufacturable integrated circuits.

At UCC Physics we are emphasising quantum dot laser physics, in collaboration with several local and international partners. The Figure shows a layer of self-assembled indium arsenide quantum dots, about 10 nm across: these exhibit atomic-like optical properties while retaining many key advantages of semiconductors for photonics such as enormous optical gain, broad bandwidth, high efficiency, and excitable by low voltage electrical conduction.

At the chip and device level, integration of electronic and photonic functions is now essential for further innovation in both arenas. Key directions to be supported by our team include compact lasers optimized for data communication and clocking. For the greater problem of developing photonic integrated circuits which are versatile and manufacturable, we are studying lithography- or beam-based modification of the semiconductor bandgap so that lasers, amplifiers, waveguides, detectors, absorbers, switches and other essential photonic devices can be integrated on the same wafer in a manner analogous to planar fabrication processes in silicon microelectronics. There are some difficult materials science problems to solve, as well as mastering the physics of the various devices and the engineering of high production yields, but the potential benefits are enormous.

Several new senior researchers have been hired in the Physics Department with funding support from Science Foundation Ireland, which also supports several existing team leaders. We collaborate with UCC's other main photonics effort at NMRC in several joint projects and other initiatives, including postgraduate and continuing-education courses in photonics. There are new exciting opportunities for postdocs, postgraduate students, industrial visitors and collaborators.

Contact: Professor John McInerney, Department of Physics, University College Cork - National University of Ireland Cork;
Tel: 021 490 2468; Fax: 021 427 6949; E-mail: [email protected]