Photonics

The development history of photonics has evolved from a set of elegantly formulated theorems by physicists, to multi-disciplinary interactions at the second half of the 20th century. Significant progresses in opto-electronic integrated circuits (OEICs), fiber optics, optical MEMS, bio-photonics, and new photonic materials and structures, have resulted in substantial impacts in our life. Taking advantages of strong research efforts in multiple disciplines at the University of Washington, the photonics research activities in the Electrical Engineering Department are cross-disciplinary efforts and interact closely with many other fields, such as micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), bio-medicine, optical communications, nano-technology, chemistry, and material science.

Various research groups have effort in photonics:

In collaboration with Microsoft Research, Associate Professor Karl BšhringerÕs group has developed one of the world's smallest electrostatic visible light transmissive micro-optical switches (TMOS) for an integrated MEMS optical display system. Each TMOS is highly space-efficient and represents one pixel with 150µm x 150µm spacing in a display module. With a zigzag electrostatic actuator of 47µm x 160µm in size, a maximum static lateral displacement of 10µm can be achieved at 38V for the shutter function. Depending on the zigzag actuator design, these devices have a mechanical resonance frequency of up to 18.6kHz.
Professor Deirdre MeldrumÕs Genomation Lab is developing a compact photonic system for high-throughput DNA analysis. This system consists of an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light sources, DNA samples with fluorescent tags, and an array of lens and fibers to collect the fluorescence signals. Also in the area of bio-photonics, Professor Sinclair Yee and Research Assistant Professor Tim Chinowsky conduct many research efforts in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical sensors and systems. They have been working on SPR sensor instrumentation for high-resolution refractometry and biomolecule interaction analysis, as well as novel optical configurations of SPR sensors.
In other optical sensor areas, Professor Bruce DarlingÕs research focuses on developing integrated optoelectronics solutions for high-speed and image preprocessing applications. Current effort focuses on smart pixels with smart illumination (SPSI), high-speed photoconductive switching, photodetectors integrated with CMOS, and digital light processing for microscopy.
Research efforts from Associate Professor Lih Lin combines disciplines of photonics, MEMS, and nanotechnology. One of LinÕs projects focuses on miniaturizing integrated photonic systems with sensing and actuation capabilities by MEMS technologies, and exploring the applications of such systems in biomedicine and advanced optical communications. Lin also works with Assistant Professor Babak Amir Parviz on integrated photonics systems in nanometer scales. The aim is to explore new photonic structures and physical phenomena in the nano-world, design and develop theoretical models for such systems, build photonic experimental facilities that are capable of characterizing them, and eventually open a new paradigm for various applications.
Professor Marty Afromowitz developed a newly patented process for fabricating complex 3-D structures with smoothly-varying elevations in thick layers of a commercially-available negative photoresist called SU-8. This is accomplished through the use of gray-scale illumination from the backside of a transparent wafer and a unique Òhot flowÓ development technique. Most photoresist work is done in very thin layers (on the order of 1 µm) and patterns are almost always Òbinary.Ó That is, the photoresist is either there, or not. AfromowitzÕs work makes the fabrication of structures with smoothly-varying elevations and an enormous design flexibility possible for the first time. The method may be applied to the fabrication of micro-optical, micro-mechanical and micro-fluidic structures with heights as great as 1 mm.
New photonic materials and study of the chemical interactions in the materials are an important foundation for photonic research. The NSF Science and Technology Center on Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research, directed by Professor Larry Dalton, focuses on development of high-performance and low-cost organic materials for next generation information technologies relevant to telecommunications, computing, defense, transportation, medicine, and entertainment. The Center has four research thrusts: (1) End-to-end theory aimed at coordinating research ranging from development of new materials to implementation of major systems. (2) Electro-optic and all-optical material and device technologies to increasing information processing bandwidths. (3) Light sources and organic electronics to facilitate sophisticated integration of electronic and photonic technologies. (4) Nano and micron scale materials development and engineering to achieve new properties and facilitate high-density integration.

Like all other disciplines in science and technology, future advancements in this field will involve strong coupling with other fields, which will allow new ways of making photonic integrated systems, new applications, new structures and new materials, as well as new physical phenomena. Photonics is expected to be an important discipline in UWEE, and the Department is well situated for such collaborative efforts and making pivotal contributions to the advancement in science and technology.