DOCTORAL CANDIDATE
Arathy Dileep

SUPERVISORS
Dr. Alban Gassenq
Dist. Prof. Arnan Mitchell

Photonics, Integrated Optics, Nano and Micro fabrication, Mid-IR sensing

The mid-infrared (Mid-IR) wavelength range (2–15 μm) holds significant potential for sensing applications, particularly for detecting molecular signatures in environmental monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and industrial process control. However, current mid-IR systems tend to be bulky and expensive, limiting their usability in compact and portable devices. Integrated Mid-IR optics offer a promising solution to miniaturize these systems, but integrating an on-chip light source, especially for wavelengths beyond 2.3 μm, presents a unique challenge.

This project addresses these challenges by developing on-chip Mid-IR sources based on rare earth down-conversion processes using Erbium (Er) doping in an Al2O3 host. The approach involves designing a photonic chip that combines silicon nitride (SiN) and lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguides to support both infrared (IR) and mid-infrared (mid-IR) light alongside a Er doped Al2O3 ring that enables wavelength conversion to the Mid-IR range.