Hybrid External Cavity Laser with an Amorphous Silicon-Based Photonic Crystal Cavity Mirror

Simone Iadanza,Robert Sheehan,Chinna Devarapu,Alexandros Liles,Liam O’Faoláin

doi:10.3390/app10010240

Abstract

The authors present results on the performance of a hybrid external cavity photonic crystal laser-comprising semiconductor optical amplifier, and a 2D photonic crystal cavity fabricated in low-temperature amorphous silicon. The authors demonstrate that lithographic control over amorphous silicon photonic crystal cavity-resonant wavelengths is possible, and that single-mode lasing at optical telecommunications wavelengths is possible on an amorphous silicon platform.

Highlights

Demand for internet-based data services is driving an increase in global IP traffic
The structure of the paper is as follows: Section 2 describes the preparation of the low temperature Amorphous silicon (a-Si) samples, the fabrication of 2D photonic crystal (PhC) cavities in that material and the preparation of a polymer waveguide that optimizes coupling between semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and the PhC cavity; Section 3 describes the results of the measurements made to demonstrate the laser operation
Measurement of the DA PhC cavity transmission spectra show that multiple resonances can be obtained and that the position of these resonances varies with the PhC lattice constant; see Figure 5

Summary

Introduction

Demand for internet-based data services is driving an increase in global IP traffic. Currently. To fully realize the potential of a-Si for integrated photonic devices an a-Si-based light source must be developed Recent work in this area has shown that it is possible to heterogeneously integrate a III-V semiconductor-distributed feedback laser onto standard c-Si SOI via a wafer bonding process where low temperature a-Si was used as the coupling medium between the laser and the SOI [14]. The structure of the paper is as follows: Section 2 describes the preparation of the low temperature a-Si samples, the fabrication of 2D PhC cavities in that material and the preparation of a polymer waveguide that optimizes coupling between SOA and the PhC cavity; Section 3 describes the results of the measurements made to demonstrate the laser operation.

Photonic Crystal Transmission Spectra

Hybrid External Cavity Laser Operation

Findings

Conclusions