Slot Photonic Crystal Waveguides : towards a silicon photonics with a localized exaltation of the electromagnetic field
Abstract : The work described in this PhD thesis brings theoretical and experimental contributions to the study of planar slot photonic crystals for a local exaltation of the electromagnetic field. The propagation of slow light in slot photonic crystal waveguides is investigated by achieving dispersion engineering and confinement of light in slotted microcavities. We have performed 3D calculations to optimize the dispersion properties of the photonic crystals by tailoring the slot itself. This allowed the observation of an enhancement of the field localization aiming at the infiltration of the slot by highly nonlinear materials. We achieved a fabrication process of slot photonic crystal waveguides in silicon on insulator (SOI) structures based on electron bearn lithography and plasma et­ ching. Slow light measurements are reported and validate the optimization method. Group indices higher than 20 have been measured in 1 mm long deviees. Slot photonic crystal microcavities with quality factors higher than 20,000 have been achieved on SOI. We have performed nonlinear optical measurements and revealed that silicon nonlinear effects in slot photonic crystal waveguides are reduced compare to standard waveguides, despite the increase of the exaltation of the electromagnetic field. Finally, we have investigated disorder-induced losses in this type of waveguides by opticallow coherence reflectrometry.