Thermo-optic Effect of 4H-silicon Carbide at Fiber-optic Communication Wavelengths

The knowledge of material physical properties is essential for a proper design of micro-electronic or micro-photonic devices. In this work, the thermo-optic effect, namely the refractive index dependence on temperature, was analized for 4H silicon carbide (4H-SiC) at the wavelength of interest for fiber-optic communication systems, A = 1.55 µm, by using a simple direct technique based on the multiple beam interference in a Fabry-Perot cavity. Measurements of refractive index and extinction coefficient were carried out in a wide wavelength range by spectroscopic ellipsometry.