Tuning of a cavity in a silicon photonic crystal by thermal expansion of an elastomeric infill

We use an elastomer as infill material for a photonic crystal. As a result of the thermal-expansion-induced strongly negative thermal optical coefficient, this material is highly suitable for thermal tuning of the transmission of a cavity. This is demonstrated by global infilling of a hole-type silicon photonic crystal slab and global thermal...

Thermal tuning of a silicon photonic crystal cavity infilled with an elastomer

Thermal tuning of the transmission of an elastomer infilled photonic crystal cavity is studied. An elastomer has a thermal expansion-induced negative thermo-optic coefficient that leads to a strong decrease of the refractive index upon heating. This property makes elastomer highly suitable for thermal tuning of the transmission of a cavity,...