Abstract

A narrowband thermal emitter exhibits higher energy efficiency and sensitivity in molecule sensing and other mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range applications compared to a blackbody emitter. Most narrowband thermal emitters involving surface plasmons have a relatively low quality factor ($Q$-factor) and require complex fabrication processes. Here we propose a bilayer cavity-enhanced Tamm plasmon (TP) structure with a high/low refractive index bilayer sandwiched between a metal and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) to achieve an enhanced $Q$-factor and maintain higher emittance over a conventional pure DBR-metal TP structure-based emitters. The large optical thickness of the high/low index bilayer cavity aids in increasing the $Q$-factor ($\sim 172$ for emission) of the cavity resonance. Furthermore, a tunable $Q$-factor is achieved ($Q$ from 172 to 47 for emission) by incorporating phase-changing material ${\mathrm{Ge}}_2{\mathrm{Sb}}_2{\mathrm{Te}}_5$. This easy-to-fabricate and tunable high $Q$-factor emitter is competent as a narrowband MIR light source in molecule sensing, typically gas sensing applications.

© 2018 Optical Society of America

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