Semiconductor Fibre Devices for Nonlinear Photonics

	The Semiconductor Fibre Devices for Nonlinear Photonics group is headed by Dr Anna Peacock.

The focus of this group’s research is to follow the development of semiconductor impregnated optical fibres from the design and characterisation stage, to the demonstration of practical all-fibre devices. 

Within the group we have a full complement of experimental and numerical expertise to support the construction of a wide range of devices. We also collaborate strongly with several groups across the Faculty of Applied Physical Sciences in the area of nonlinear photonics.

Key research breakthroughs

• Characterisation of silicon microcylindrical resonators - key
  publications: 5188, 5466
• Nonlinear optical characterisation of hydrogenated amorphous 
  silicon core fibres - key publications:4836, 5207
• Tapered silicon optical fibres with tailored nonlinear and 
  dispersion properties – key publications: 4712, 4747
• Large mode area silicon microstructured fibres with robust 
  dual mode guidance – key publications: 4504
• Optical characterization of low loss semiconductor fibres 
  – key publications: 4608, 4836 
• Metal impregnated microstructured fibres for surface enhanced
  Raman spectroscopy – key publications: 3849, 4094

Impact of research

Semiconductor photonics is fast becoming one of the most active areas of research offering optoelectronic solutions for a wide range of applications not only in telecoms, but also in medicine, imaging, spectroscopy, and sensing. For example: ultra-fast all-fibre optical switches aim to reduce costs and improve efficiency of communications systems, whilst laser sources which operate in the mid infrared are of use for environmental sensing and medical applications. The incorporation of the active semiconductor component into the fibre geometry provides an important step towards seamlessly linking semiconductor photonics with existing fibre infrastructures. Our research aims to develop elegant semiconductor fibre based devices over the range of these diverse fields to maximise impact and ensure a high level of both scientific and commercial relevance.

Research facilities

A wide range of optical and material characterization facilities are available that extend over the wavelength range 300nm-3.4µm. Laser sources include: supercontinuum source, femtosecond optical parametric oscillator, high power fibre lasers and laser diodes.

Current research projects

Fiberized Silicon: A New Platform for Nonlinear Photonics Devices
Funded by EPSRC (EP/G051755/1): January 2010 to December 2012

NSF Materials World Network: Semiconductor photonic materials inside microstructured optical fibers
Funded by NSF/EPSRC (EP/I035307/1): January 2012 to December 2014

In collaboration with Dr P. Sazio (ORC), Dr P. Horak (ORC), Prof. J. Badding (Penn State University, USA), and Prof. V. Gopalan (Penn State University, USA).

Tapered Semiconductor Fibres for Nonlinear Photonics Applications
Funded by EPSRC (EP/J004863/1): May 2012 to April 2015

Collaborations 

Internal:

• Photonic, electronic and plasmonic microstructured optical fibres
• Microstructured optical fibres group
• Computational nonlinear optics group
• Photonic systems circuits and sensors
• Laboratories for Hybrid Optoelectronics 

Academic (international): 

• Prof. J Badding (Penn State University, USA) 

Work with us 

If you are interested in working with us or would like to find out more about our group please contact Dr Anna Peacock.