Ultra-fast optical ranging using quantum-dash mode-locked laser diodes.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Laser Technology
• Sensor Systems

Background:

• Laser-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is crucial for science and industry.
• Compactness and power efficiency are vital for high-volume LiDAR applications like industrial sensing and autonomous navigation.
• Existing miniaturized comb sources face technical challenges in achieving high optical power and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate quantum-dash mode-locked laser diodes (QD-MLLDs) as a viable solution for high-performance chip-scale ranging systems.
• To overcome the limitations of current miniaturized comb sources for LiDAR.
• To enable compact, power-efficient, and high-accuracy LiDAR systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized quantum-dash mode-locked laser diodes (QD-MLLDs) for frequency comb generation.
• Implemented coherent dual-comb ranging techniques.
• Integrated QD-MLLDs with advanced silicon photonic receivers.

Main Results:

• Achieved measurement rates up to 500 MHz, the highest demonstrated for any ranging system.
• Demonstrated reliable measurements with low optical return powers (-40 dBm).
• Attained a record loss tolerance of 49 dB for chip-scale dual-comb ranging systems.

Conclusions:

• QD-MLLDs provide a compact and efficient platform for high-performance chip-scale LiDAR.
• The developed system offers high accuracy, speed, and significant loss tolerance.
• Combining QD-MLLDs with silicon photonics presents a pathway to robust and simple chip-scale LiDAR solutions.