Coupling evanescently low loss Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ridge waveguides(WGs) including high Q nanocavities: For light control

We have fabricated a multislotted optical nanoresonator with several spatial field distributions which are all addressable by the wavelength. The reported structure consists in an array of evanescently coupled single mode photonic crystal nanocavities. By using a scanning near-field optical microscope, we quantify the morphology of the different optical mode volumes and show that they consist in grids of light confined at the subwavelength scaleOver the last recent years, optical microcavities have proven their ability to slow down, control and even trap light inside an ultra small volume. Several approaches have led to quality factor (Q) records allowing to reach high photon life-time for optical information processing. Optical nanocavities are also very efficient sensors for biological or chemical detection inside ultra small volumes. In such applications, the detection mechanism is based on a small change of the resonance wavelength due to the modification of the cavity optical near-field. In order to improve the sensing efficiency of such systems, it has also been proposed to fabricate air-slotted nanocavities in which the field is confined in an air sub-wavelength volume. In this configuration, the overlap between the cavity optical near-field and the analyze can be greatly improved.