Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English or Chinese
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
Department
Electrical Engineering
First Advisor
Weidong, Zhou
Second Advisor
Alice (Yuze), Sun
Third Advisor
Alexandrakis, Georgios
Abstract
This thesis investigates the design and integration of photonic crystal (PC) structures for compact, high-performance optical platforms, with a focus on applications in gas sensing, on-chip lasers, and flat optics. Chapter 1 introduces the fundamental principles of PC design and simulation, highlighting their potential to replace bulky components in micro-gas chromatography (µGC) systems through miniaturization and integration. Chapter 2 explores PC-based nanobeam lasers, including the Lambda-Scale Embedded Active-Region Photonic Crystal (LEAP) laser, which demonstrates strong optical confinement and energy-efficient operation, with energy consumption as low as 8 fJ/bit. These laser designs are evaluated for their suitability in low-power, high-speed on-chip applications. In Chapter 3, a novel metalens approach is presented using group delay index control to achieve subwavelength thickness (160 nm) at a 940 nm wavelength, offering a compact and tunable alternative to traditional bulky lenses. Chapter 4 demonstrates the integration of a µGC with a defect-free two-dimensional photonic crystal slab (PCS) sensor on a SiN/quartz platform. The sensor operates in the near-infrared range (900–1000 nm) and employs Fano resonance excitation via a cross-polarized free-space setup, enabling efficient spectroscopic sensing without fiber coupling. The PCS array’s spectral retrieval capabilities also suggest potential as a replacement for conventional optical spectrum analyzers. This work lays the foundation for future research on fully integrated, wavelength-scalable photonic sensing and spectrometry systems.
Keywords
photonic crystal, micro-gas chromatography sensor, on chip sensor, rate equation, insulator EBL pattern, mixed gas sensor
Disciplines
Electrical and Electronics | Electromagnetics and Photonics | Electronic Devices and Semiconductor Manufacturing | Nanotechnology Fabrication
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Chen, Yudong, "Photonic Crystal Devices for Chip Scale Sensing Systems" (2025). Electrical Engineering Dissertations. 407.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/electricaleng_dissertations/407
Included in
Electrical and Electronics Commons, Electromagnetics and Photonics Commons, Electronic Devices and Semiconductor Manufacturing Commons, Nanotechnology Fabrication Commons