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Integrated Al2O3:Er3+ ring lasers on silicon with wide wavelength selectivity.
J D Bradley1, R Stoffer, L Agazzi
1Integrated Optical Microsystems Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. j.d.b.bradley@ewi.utwente.nl
Optics Letters
|July 29, 2010
Summary
Integrated aluminum oxide (Al2O3):erbium (Er3+) channel waveguide ring lasers were successfully fabricated. These lasers demonstrate efficient pumping and tunable wavelength output, paving the way for advanced photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photonics
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Development of integrated optical devices is crucial for next-generation communication and sensing technologies.
- Erbium-doped aluminum oxide (Al2O3:Er3+) waveguides offer potential for compact and efficient laser sources.
- Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platforms are attractive for integrated photonics due to their compatibility with existing semiconductor fabrication processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To realize integrated Al2O3:Er3+ channel waveguide ring lasers on silicon substrates.
- To investigate the performance characteristics, including pump power coupling, output power, and slope efficiency.
- To demonstrate wavelength tunability of the fabricated ring lasers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of Al2O3:Er3+ channel waveguides on thermally oxidized silicon substrates.
- Design optimization for high pump power coupling and low laser output power coupling.
- Characterization of lasing performance, including threshold power, output power, and slope efficiency.
- Demonstration of wavelength selection by varying the output coupler length.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of integrated Al2O3:Er3+ channel waveguide ring lasers.
- Observed lasing with a low threshold diode-pump power as low as 6.4 mW.
- Measured output powers up to 9.5 microwatts and slope efficiencies up to 0.11%.
- Achieved wavelength selection in the 1530–1557 nm range by adjusting the output coupler.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully demonstrates the feasibility of integrated Al2O3:Er3+ channel waveguide ring lasers on silicon.
- The straightforward design facilitates efficient pump coupling and tunable laser output.
- These results highlight the potential of Al2O3:Er3+ waveguides for developing compact and versatile integrated photonic devices.
