Thermal tuning of silicon-based one-dimensional photonic bandgap structures

Thermal tuning of silicon-based one-dimensional photonic bandgap microcavities is demonstrated. Thermally induced spectral shifts are caused by both the host silicon matrix and the optically active material infiltrated inside the photonic bandgap structures. The active material leads to the dominant thermal tuning contribution but the effect of the silicon matrix cannot be neglected. The interaction of the temperature dependence of the host matrix with that of the active material is explored. The general trends revealed by the characterization should be relevant for two-dimensional silicon-based photonic bandgap structures as well as other photonic bandgap materials systems.