Collaborative Research: Strain-Tunable Ge Nanomembrane Lasers

合作研究：应变可调谐Ge纳米膜激光器

• 批准号: 1308534
• 负责人: Roberto Paiella
• 金额: $ 28.17万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-15 至 2017-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1308534&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Strain; Tunable; Ge

Objective: The objective of this program is to develop a novel family of diode lasers based on single-crystal semiconductor nanomembranes, featuring several potentially transformative attributes. Specifically, these devices, because of their extreme structural flexibility, could be employed in environments that are inaccessible to traditional rigid semiconductors. Their emission properties can be controlled with externally applied mechanical stress, e.g., leading to unprecedented wavelength tunability. Furthermore, the nanomembrane geometry may even allow for laser oscillation in materials that are normally inadequate to this purpose. In particular, this program is focused on the demonstration of nanomembrane lasers based on germanium, where tensile strain can produce a direct fundamental bandgap, thereby enabling optical gain. Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit is provided by several potentially disruptive applications of the proposed devices. Nanomembrane lasers in general can create novel functionalities in mechanically flexible optoelectronic systems, such as sensor foils, smart clothing, and artificial skin. Furthermore, the proposed Ge lasers could be directly fabricated on silicon-based microelectronic chips as a means to enable the integration of electronics and photonics at an unprecedented scale. Broader Impacts: The broader impacts are provided by related educational and curriculum development activities. The research involvement of undergraduates and high-school interns will be emphasized, leveraging existing programs with a strong focus on underrepresented minorities. The more innovative themes of this research will also be incorporated in courses taught by the PIs. Furthermore, the aforementioned applications may ultimately produce important benefits to society, e.g., by creating radically new sensing capabilities.

目的：该程序的目的是基于单晶半导体纳米膜开发一个新型的二极管激光器，具有几种潜在的变换属性。 具体而言，这些设备由于其极端的结构灵活性，可以用于传统刚性半导体无法接近的环境中。 它们的发射特性可以通过外部施加的机械应力来控制，例如导致前所未有的波长可调性。 此外，纳米膜几何形状甚至可以允许通常不足以实现此目的的材料的激光振荡。 特别是，该程序的重​​点是基于锗的纳米膜激光器的演示，在那里拉伸菌株可以产生直接的基本带隙，从而实现光学增益。 智力优点：智力优点是由拟议设备的几种潜在破坏性应用提供的。 一般而言，纳米膜激光器可以在机械灵活的光电系统中创建新型功能，例如传感器箔，智能服装和人造皮肤。 此外，提出的GE激光器可以直接在基于硅的微电子芯片上制造，以便能够以前所未有的规模积分电子和光子素。 更广泛的影响：相关的教育和课程发展活动提供了更广泛的影响。 将强调本科生和高中实习生的研究参与，以利用现有的计划，重点是代表性不足的少数民族。 这项研究的更具创新性的主题也将纳入PIS教授的课程中。 此外，上述应用最终可能会通过创建根本新的感应能力来为社会带来重要的好处。