Local Tuning of the Epsilon-Near-Zero Condition in Hybrid Silicon Waveguides Using Reactive Laser Annealing

[EN] The ability for locally tuning devices in photonic integrated circuits could be an essential function for a wide range of applications requiring reconfigurable photonics. This work demonstrates the application of postgrowth reactive laser annealing to selectively tune the optical properties of...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Navarro-Arenas, Juan, Howe, Thomas M., Koutsogeorgis, Demosthenes C., Hillier, James A., Kalfagiannis, Nikolaos, Parra Gomez, Jorge|||0000-0003-4610-3411, Sanchis Kilders, Pablo|||0000-0003-2984-4218
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repositorio:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/220099
Acceso en línea:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/220099
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Epsilon-near-zero
Hybrid silicon waveguide
Indium tin oxide
Laser annealing
Silicon photonics
Transparent conducting oxides
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] The ability for locally tuning devices in photonic integrated circuits could be an essential function for a wide range of applications requiring reconfigurable photonics. This work demonstrates the application of postgrowth reactive laser annealing to selectively tune the optical properties of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) patches integrated in silicon waveguides. ITO stands out due to its distinctive ability to operate in the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) regime at near-infrared wavelengths. The precise local tuning of the ENZ wavelength in ITO/Si hybrid waveguides by controlling the laser annealing fluence is demonstrated. This technique uniquely allows for the customization of optical constants at critical telecom wavelengths. The findings present a powerful and adaptable method to exploit the exceptional qualities of ITO and, by extension, other transparent conducting oxides, paving the way for the functional diversification of hybrid photonic devices on a singular-silicon chip.