Tailored scaling: a possibility to improve the performance of ultra-wide continuously tunable photonic devices

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 87 - 93
• Main Authors: ATARO, E, PROTT, C, RÖMER, F, HILLMER, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-07-2004
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Delay; Devices; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Filters, zone plates, and polarizers; Finite element method; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Integrated optics; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Lasers; Mathematical models; Micro- and nanoelectromechanical devices (mems/nems); Mindlin plate theory; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optics; Optoelectronic device characterization, design, and modeling; Optoelectronic devices; Physics; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Stability; Tuning; Integrated optics; Tunable circuit; Micromechanical resonators; Theoretical study; Micromechanical devices; Vertical cavity laser; Finite element method; Scaling law; Distributed Bragg reflection; Photonic crystal; Surface emitting laser; Optoelectronic device; Numerical simulation; Microelectromechanical device
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-004-1500-z

We studied the effect of scaling the size of DBR-based micromechanical tunable vertical micro-cavity devices based on electro-mechanical model calculations. An investigation that results in a scaling in such a way that the end device replicates the same electro-mechanical tuning characteristic as the original is reported. A comprehensive FEM analysis based on the Mindlin plate theory shows a marked improvement in the tuning delay as well as the structural and performance stability by downscaling. The tuning delay decreased by 66%, and the resonant frequencies increased by 74% by scaling down by a factor of three. These coupled with the reduced peak amplitude of the transient response of the scaled down device point to an improved stability.