Frequency control of photonic crystal membrane resonators by monolayer deposition

We study the response of GaAs photonic crystal membrane resonators to thin-film deposition. Slow spectral shifts of the cavity mode of several nanometers are observed at low temperatures, caused by cryo-gettering of background molecules. Heating the membrane resets the drift and shielding will prevent drift altogether. In order to explore the drift as a tool to detect surface layers, or to intentionally shift the cavity resonance frequency, we studied the effect of self-assembled monolayers of polypeptide molecules attached to the membranes. The 2-nm-thick monolayers lead to a discrete step in the resonance frequency and partially passivate the surface.