Acoustically tunable photonic band gap structures

We discuss the formation of a tunable one-dimensional photonic band gap structure through the modulation of the resonance frequency of an optical microcavity by a surface acoustic wave (SAW). The microcavity consists of a λ/2 GaAs layer bounded by AlAs/GaAs Bragg mirrors. The SAW periodically modulates the optical thickness of the cavity layer, leading to a light dispersion relation folded within a mini-Brillouin zone (MBZ) defined by |k x |≤ π/λ SAW (k x denotes the photon wave vector component along the SAW propagation direction x-with-caret). In reflection and diffraction experiments, we observe photon modes bounding the gaps in the center and at the boundary of the MBZ as well as a reno…

Polarized recombination of acoustically transported carriers in GaAs nanowires

: The oscillating piezoelectric field of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is employed to transport photoexcited electrons and holes in GaAs nanowires deposited on a SAW delay line on a LiNbO3 crystal. The carriers generated in the nanowire by a focused light spot are acoustically transferred to a second location where they recombine. We show that the recombination of the transported carriers occurs in a zinc blende section on top of the predominant wurtzite nanowire. This allows contactless control of the linear polarized emission by SAWs which is governed by the crystal structure. Additional polarization-resolved photoluminescence measurements were performed to investigate spin conservation d…

Structural and luminescence properties of GaN nanowires grown using cobalt phthalocyanine as catalyst

Catalyst free methods have usually been employed to avoid any catalyst induced contamination for the synthesis of GaN nanowires with better transport and optical properties. Here, we have used a catalytic route to grow GaN nanowires, which show good optical quality. Structural and luminescence properties of GaN nanowires grown by vapor-liquid-solid technique using cobalt phthalocyanine as catalyst are systematically investigated as a function of various growth parameters such as the growth temperature and III/V ratio. The study reveals that most of the nanowires, which are several tens of microns long, grow along [101¯0] direction. Interestingly, the average wire diameter has been found to …

Tunable arrayed waveguide grating driven by surface acoustic waves

We present a design approach for compact reconfigurable phased-array wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) devices with N access waveguides (WGs) based on multimode interference (MMI) couplers. The proposed devices comprise two MMI couplers which are employed as power splitters and combiners, respectively, linked by an array of N single-mode WGs. First, passive devices are explored. Taking advantage of the transfer phases between the access ports of the MMI couplers, we derive very simple phase relations between the arms that provide wavelength dispersion at the output plane of the devices. When the effective refractive index of the WGs is modulated with the proper relative optical phase d…

The fingerprint of Te-rich and stoichiometric Bi2Te3 nanowires by Raman spectroscopy

We unambiguously show that the signature of Te-rich bismuth telluride is the appearance of three new peaks in the Raman spectra of Bi2Te3, located at 88, 117 and 137 cm−1 . For this purpose, we have grown stoichiometric Bi2Te3 nanowires as well as Te-rich nanowires. The absence of these peaks in stoichiometric nanowires, even in those with the smallest diameter, shows that they are not related to confinement effects or the lack of inversion symmetry, as stated in the literature, but to the existence of Te clusters. These Te clusters have been found in nonstoichiometric samples by high resolution electron microscopy, while they are absent in stoichiometric samples. The Raman spectra of the l…

Raman signal reveals the rhombohedral crystallographic structure in ultra-thin layers of bismuth thermally evaporated on amorphous substrate

Under the challenge of growing a single bilayer of Bi oriented in the (111) crystallographic direction over amorphous substrates, we have studied different thicknesses of Bi thermally evaporated onto silicon oxide in order to shed light on the dominant atomic structures and their oxidation. We have employed atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope approaches to demonstrate that Bi is crystalline and oriented in the (111) direction for thicknesses over 20 nm. Surprisingly, Raman spectroscopy indicates that the rhombohedral structure is preserved even for ultra-thin layers of Bi, down to $\sim 5$ nm. Moreover, the signals also reveal that bismuth films expo…

Catalytic oxidation of n-hexane promoted by Ce1-xCuxO2 catalysts prepared by one-step polymeric precursor method

Abstract Ceria-supported copper catalysts (Ce1−xCuxO2, with x (mol) = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10) were prepared in one step through the polymeric precursor method. The textural properties of the catalysts were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, N2-physisorption (BET surface area), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV–visible diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopies and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). In a previous study ceria-supported copper catalysts were found to be efficient in the preferential oxidation of CO. In this study, we extended the catalytic application of Ce1−xCuxO2 systems to n-hexane oxidation and it was verified tha…

Thermally Tunable Surface Acoustic Wave Cavities

We experimentally demonstrate the dynamical tuning of the acoustic field in a surface acoustic wave (SAW) cavity defined by a periodic arrangement of metal stripes on LiNbO3 substrate. Applying a dc voltage to the ends of the metal grid results in a temperature rise due to resistive heating that changes the frequency response of the device up to 0.3%, which can be used to control the acoustic transmission through the structure. The timescale of the switching is demonstrated to be of about 200 ms. In addition, we have also performed finite-element simulations of the transmission spectrum of a model system, which exhibits a temperature dependence consistent with the experimental data. The adv…

Semiconductor optical waveguide devices modulated by surface acoustic waves