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Heterogeneously-integrated lasers on thin film lithium niobate
Mingxiao Li1, Chao Xiang1, Joel Guo1
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Nanophotonics (Berlin, Germany)
|December 22, 2025
Summary
We developed a versatile platform integrating III-V gain with thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic circuits for high-performance lasers. This breakthrough enables compact, functional photonic systems for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Integrated Optics
Background:
- Fully integrated photonic systems face challenges in combining optical gain, low-loss cavities, and phase control.
- Heterogeneous integration is key to overcoming these limitations for advanced functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a versatile heterogeneous integration platform unifying III-V gain with thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic circuits.
- To create high-performance lasers with integrated functionality on a single chip.
Main Methods:
- Developed a heterogeneous integration platform combining III-V gain materials with TFLN photonic circuits.
- Fabricated two distinct laser architectures: a distributed feedback (DFB) laser and a Vernier ring laser.
- Utilized self-injection locking to a high-Q TFLN resonator for the DFB laser.
Main Results:
- Achieved an 11.0 kHz intrinsic linewidth and 4.0 mW in-fiber power for the DFB laser.
- Demonstrated 44 nm continuous tuning range with >40 dB side-mode suppression ratio for the Vernier ring laser.
- Showcased the potential for direct intracavity modulation, a functionality typically requiring discrete components.
Conclusions:
- The heterogeneous integration platform provides a foundational advancement for compact, robust photonic systems.
- This approach enables key functionalities for coherent communications, optical metrology, quantum computing, and microwave photonics.
- Marks a significant step toward complete photonic system integration on a single chip.
