We describe a new class of plasmonic photonic (PPh) crystal structures integrated onto a MEMS platform for high temperature-intensity, high speed, and high efficiency narrow band emitting and signaling applications in the infrared. We exploit 2D organized metallo-dielectric surface structures^1,2 for angular and spectral control of reflection, absorption and emission, efficiently in the infrared, with little or no leakage into adjacent visible or near-infrared bands. The 2D PPh structures are built on a MEMS platform, for thermal isolation from the environment. Recent advances² in the design of the 2D PPh structures allows for tremendous performance enhancement: high temperature/high intensity operation close to 1000 C and high speed (200Hz with 50% modulation), opening new applications in spectroscopy, infrared imaging, and signaling. Demonstrated wafer-level vacuum sealing improves the wall plug efficiency dramatically allowing these devices to be portable, light and battery operated. One potential application for these light-weight, low-power consumption, low-cost IR emitters is signaling and marking in 3-5 or 8- 12 micron thermal bands.

Date Published: 13 May 2011
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8031, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications III, 80312Y (13 May 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.884617

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8031:
Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications III
Thomas George; M. Saif Islam; Achyut K. Dutta, Editor(s)