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Dielectric photonics

Probe light emission characteristics with CL

The electron beam that is used in cathodoluminescence (CL), acts as a highly localized broad-band excitation source. This makes CL ideal for characterizing spectral characteristics of optical resonances in dielectric resonators used as building blocks for e.g. metasurfaces and sensors. Furthermore, it can be used to map dispersion, directionality, and polarization in waveguides, dielectric metasurfaces, photonic crystals, and photonic topological insulators to name a few examples.

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What we can help you to achieve
  • Gain insight into the (optical) properties without perturbing the optical environment
  • Study mode profiles and spectral characteristics at the nanoscale
  • Acquire single-shot broad band dispersion data
Cathodoluminescence image of photonic crystals

In-depth characterization of photonic crystals

Photonic crystals (PCs) are of interest due to their ability to guide, confine, and slow down light on small length scales. They usually consist of a periodic arrangement of holes in a high-index material, such as silicon or silicon nitride. By leaving out one or more holes high-Q cavities or waveguides can be defined. Furthermore, by engineering the crystal structure in particular ways topological photonic insulator systems can be constructed with unique optical properties. 

Cathodoluminescence is a highly valuable tool for studying such systems due its ability to measure modal dispersion and distributions well below the diffraction limit. It can be used to measure the (polarization-sensitive) band structure of the crystal and mode profiles of waveguides and cavities. 

What can you achieve with cathodoluminescence?

The broad CL analysis portfolio can be used to study the optical properties dielectric photonic structures in great detail. This can be employed to gain fundamental insights into novel optical designs, but also for characterization and quantification of (integrated) dielectric photonics and metasurface elements for particular applications.  

Hyperspectral CL map of a silicon dimer SEM map of a silicon dimer
Image slider showing a hyperspectral CL (right) and SEM (left) map of a silicon dimer. The fact that the CL map is brighter at the particle edges is a manifestation of interparticle coupling and optical mode hybridization. Image by Dr. Jorik van de Groep (AMOLF, UvA)

Use the right products to get the right results

Delmic CL solutions offers a range of powerful and user-friendly cathodoluminescence detectors, which can help you learn more about both bulk and nanostructured materials.

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