16-channel stable single-mode laser arrays with high power and accurate interval for optical I/O technology

Optical I/O technology, as an important solution to address the increasing pressure of data traffic, has placed higher demands on the performance of the laser light sources, which are its key components. Here, we propose a regrowth-free scheme to realize a multi-wavelength laser array with precise wavelength control and high output power. Based on the α-Si two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal on both sides of the wide waveguide, simultaneous mode selection for longitudinal modes and lateral modes is achieved. Furthermore, a special electrode design is introduced to ensure the effectiveness of the mode selection mechanism. All channels of the 16-channel multi-wavelength lasers achieve stable single-mode operation with a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) greater than 40.0 dB, a wavelength interval accurate to 100 GHz, a horizontal far-field divergence angle of 7.5°, a maximum output power greater than 50.0 mW, and a relative intensity noise (RIN) less than -135.0 dB/Hz under the working current, thus having the potential to meet the needs for optical I/O technology.