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Crystalline Mirrors in Photonics

Overview

Crystalline mirrors are essential components in photonics, utilizing monocrystalline optical materials to achieve high reflectivity. These mirrors are based on the principle of distributed Bragg reflectors or optical interference coatings, providing superior performance in various optical applications.

Fabrication of Crystalline Mirrors

The fabrication of crystalline mirrors involves the use of epitaxial methods such as molecular beam epitaxy or metal–organic chemical vapor deposition on monocrystalline substrates. Lattice-matched material pairs, such as gallium arsenide and aluminum gallium arsenide, are commonly used to grow high-quality Bragg mirrors.

Applications

Crystalline mirrors find applications in surface-emitting semiconductor lasers, vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers, and optical gyroscopes. These mirrors offer high reflectivity in specific wavelength regions, making them ideal for precision optical systems.

Advantages

One of the key advantages of crystalline mirrors is their low mechanical damping, which reduces thermally induced phase noise in interferometers and reference cavities. The use of monocrystalline materials results in lower mechanical losses compared to amorphous coatings, enhancing the overall performance of optical systems.

Future Developments

Ongoing research aims to further reduce thermal noise in crystalline mirrors through cryogenic operation and advanced substrate transfer techniques. These advancements could lead to improved performance in optical metrology and gravitational wave detection systems.

Source: www.etalons-galop.com
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