Tunable Infrared Transmission Filters with Phase Change Materials

Optics and photonics rely heavily on advanced filters to manipulate light properties. This manipulation becomes more challenging with the increasing dynamic range and bandwidth of data transmission. Tunable filters, capable of adjusting their characteristics based on external stimuli, are the key to meeting these increasing demands. Current approaches focusing on purely mechanical or electronic tuning frequently come with shortcomings such as inadequate response time, high energy consumption, or limited tuning range. Consequently, there is a pressing need for an advanced filter technology that can directly integrate high-speed, wide-range tuning with energy efficiency.

Technology Description

This technology is a tunable filter that includes a substrate and an active region. The active region uses a phase change material that primarily contains selenium (Se). The most notable feature of this invention is its capability to transition from an amorphous state to a crystalline state, thanks to the phase change material. This technology sets itself apart because of its implementation of selenium in the phase change material. The amorphous to crystalline switch, controlled by this material's phase changes, brings a unique functionality to its active region. Such a feature makes it directly tunable, a superior advance in filter technology. The conductive properties of the selenium-based material further differentiate this device.