A photonic self-oscillator based on porous silicon

Abstract

Abstract We induced mechanical self-oscillations in a microcavity structure made of porous silicon onedimensional photonic crystals (PSi-1DPC) with an air gap. The electromagnetic force generated within the whole photonic structure, by light with a wavelength of 633 nm, is enough to overcome energy losses and sustain selfoscillations. From these mechano-optical measurements we estimated the stiffness and Young’s modulus of porous silicon and compared the results with values reported elsewhere and with values estimated herein by a mechanical method.We obtained good agreement between all values.