Midinfrared Semiconductor Photonics - A Roadmap

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state, challenges, and future directions of mid-infrared semiconductor photonics, emphasizing applications, technological gaps, and development roadmaps for this less mature but crucial field.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of mid-IR photonic applications, assesses current device technologies, and proposes strategic roadmaps for technological advancement and commercialization.

Findings

Mid-IR devices are less mature than near-IR counterparts.

Material and fabrication challenges hinder device performance.

Roadmaps are suggested for improving device performance and manufacturability.

Abstract

Semiconductor photonic devices operating in the midwave infrared (mid-IR, which we roughly define here as wavelengths spanning 3 to 14 microns) uniquely address a wide range of current practical needs. These include chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, industrial process control, medical diagnostics, thermal imaging, LIDAR, free space optical communication, and security monitoring. However, mid-IR device technologies are currently still works in progress that are generally much less mature than their near infrared and visible counterparts. Not only are most of the relevant materials more difficult to grow and process, but attainment of the desired optical device performance is often fundamentally more challenging. This Roadmap will review the leading applications for mid-IR optoelectronics, summarize the status and deficiencies of current device technologies, and then suggest possible roadmaps for improving and maturing the performance, manufacturability, and cost of each device type so the critical needs that are uniquely addressed by mid-IR photonics can be satisfied.