LASING OF ERBIUM IN CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTONIC NANOSTRUCTURES – LECSIN

The project focuses on the control of radiative emission of Erbium ions in photonic crystal nanostructures made of
crystalline Silicon, with the goal of achieving laser emission around 1.54 micron wavelength. To this purpose, photonic
crystal waveguides and nanocavities will be fabricated in Si membranes contaning Erbium ions. Photonic structures will
be designed such that the high-Q cavity modes be resonant with the narrow lines corresponding to Er3+ emission, in
order to tailor the radiative dynamics and to enhance optical gain. Micro-photoluminescence and pump-probe
experiments under suitable pumping conditions will probe the radiative emission of Er3+, to achieve net gain and
lasing threshold. Theoretical studies of Er3+ emission coupled to nanocavity modes will allow exploring cavity quantum
electrodynamic effects. The proposal builds on a new partnership by leading groups with complementary expertise in
Silicon photonics, nano-technonology and nano-photonics, quantum optics.