Super-mode noise suppression of a silicon hybrid mode-locked ring laser using a symmetric Fabry–Perot filter

Abstract

In this research, we propose a harmonically mode-locked hybrid silicon laser by introducing intracavity reflectors (ICRs) to suppress super-mode noise. Using a delay differential equation model, the dynamics, phase noise, and timing jitter of the proposed structure (PS) and the without-ICR structure (WOICRS) are investigated. The simulation results show a significant increase of 20 GHz harmonic regime of PS compared to WOICRS. Additionally, this regime of PS can be achieved at a lower current than WOICRS. The phase noise of the PS is improved to about 8 dB. Given the better selectivity of optical modes in PS, the phase noise is reduced compared to that of with-intracavity structure. Furthermore, numerical results show that timing jitter reduction has periodic behavior by changing the harmonic inter-spike interval time. The analyses demonstrate that harmonic mode-locking of a long cavity laser is a valid strategy for reducing phase noise and timing jitter. The simulation results of WOICRS are in a good agreement with experimental results.