On-chip wavelength locking for photonic switches

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Engineering
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• Ring-resonator-based devices are crucial for wavelength-selective optical switching.
• Precise absolute wavelength alignment is essential for reliable performance in these switches.
• Existing alignment methods can be complex or lack sufficient accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel on-chip wavelength reference.
• To demonstrate its utility in ring-resonator-based wavelength-selective switches.
• To investigate key performance metrics relevant to optical switch operation.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a partial drop ring resonator with a germanium photodetector on a single chip.
• Utilizing the temperature dependence of heater resistance as an integrated temperature sensor.
• Experimental characterization of the wavelength reference and its associated components.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of an on-chip wavelength reference.
• Demonstration of temperature sensing using heater resistance.
• Analysis of critical parameters including locking speed, heater resistance variation, and tuning speed.

Conclusions:

• The developed on-chip wavelength reference is suitable for absolute wavelength alignment in optical switches.
• The integrated temperature sensing offers a practical approach for calibration and control.
• Further optimization of locking and tuning speeds is possible for enhanced switch performance.