Thermal imaging

Thermal Transient Imaging of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs)

In order to understand the heat diffusion and its effect on optical properties of active optoelectronic devices, we use thermoreflectance imaging to study the thermal transients in the time domain. A specific pulsing technique is used to study heat transfer in VCSELs. These experimental studies were complemented by thermal transfer modeling and heat diffusion simulations. The results of our work can be found here.  

Thermal Imaging of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs)

This was a project in collaboration with Dr. Luke Mawst at the Dept. of Conputer and Electrical Engineering, UW-Madison and Intrabad, LLC. Dr. Mawst’s group fabricates and tests QCLs which are mid-IR, high power laser diodes. Using thermoreflectance microscopy we studied the thermal profile and thermal transient behavior in both single standing QCLs and their arrays under operating conditions.

Thermal Imaging of high-power red laser diodes

This was an extension of the QCL project (see above), in collaboration with Dr. Luke Mawst’s group and Compound Photonics, LLC. at Madison. We confirmed our calibration procedure for QCLs using the known thermal properties of these red diode lasers. We also studied the effects of different fabrication processes on the thermal conductivity of these lasers.

Thermal and Electrolumionescence Imaging of High-power, Infrared LEDs

We used our thermal imaging capabilities to study thermal effects in LEDs. Using a new pulsing scheme, we were able to separate thermal images from electroluminescence (light emission) images of the LEDs.

Thermal Imaging of Polymer-based Photonics Wire Bonds

This project was done in collaboration with researchers from BAE Systems, Inc. We were able to optically pump the wirebonds and use thermoreflectance microscopy to obtain thermal images under UV illumination.

Thermal Imaging of NiCr microheaters

In collaboration with HyperLight in Boston, we are working on thermal calibration and thermal imaging of NiCr mircoheaters.

optical Trapping

We designed and constructed a small optical tweezers setup. We were able to trap silica microspheres and measure the maximum trapping force of our trap. Research in this area is continuing by performing several calibration measurements.

External Cavity, Wavelength Tunable Light Source

We are developing an optical setup for creating a tunable wavelength light source using a superluminescent diode (SLD) by utilizing an external cavity. We were able to produce optical feedback and achieve higher power output light with a narrow bandwidth. Research in this area is on-going.