J. Hauck

Optical Peaking Enhancement in High-Speed Ring Modulators

Ring resonator modulators (RRM) combine extreme compactness, low power consumption and wavelength division multiplexing functionality, making them a frontrunner for addressing the scalability requirements of short distance optical links. To extend data rates beyond the classically assumed bandwidth capability, we derive and experimentally verify closed form equations of the electro-optic response and asymmetric side band generation resulting from inherent transient time dynamics and leverage these to significantly improve device performance. An equivalent circuit description with a commonly used peaking amplifier model allows straightforward assessment of the effect on existing communication system architectures. A small signal analytical expression of peaking in the electro-optic response of RRMs is derived and used to extend the electro-optic bandwidth of the device above 40 GHz as well as to open eye diagrams penalized by intersymbol interference at 32, 40 and 44 Gbps. Predicted peaking and asymmetric side band generation are in excellent agreement with experiments.

Silicon photonics plasma-modulators with advanced transmission line design.

We have investigated two novel concepts for the design of transmission lines in travelling wave Mach-Zehnder interferometer based Silicon Photonics depletion modulators overcoming the analog bandwidth limitations arising from cross-talk between signal lines in push-pull modulators and reducing the linear losses of the transmission lines. We experimentally validate the concepts and demonstrate an E/O -3 dBe bandwidth of 16 GHz with a 4V drive voltage (in dual drive configuration) and 8.8 dB on-chip insertion losses. Significant bandwidth improvements result from suppression of cross-talk. An additional bandwidth enhancement of ~11% results from a reduction of resistive transmission line losses. Frequency dependent loss models for loaded transmission lines and E/O bandwidth modeling are fully verified.

Silicon photonics WDM transmitter with single section semiconductor mode-locked laser

Abstract We demonstrate a wavelength domain-multiplexed (WDM) optical link relying on a single section semiconductor mode-locked laser (SS-MLL) with quantum dash (Q-Dash) gain material to generate 25 optical carriers spaced by 60.8 GHz, as well as silicon photonics (SiP) resonant ring modulators (RRMs) to modulate individual optical channels. The link requires optical reamplification provided by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) in the system experiments reported here. Open eye diagrams with signal quality factors (Q-factors) above 7 are measured with a commercial receiver (Rx). For higher compactness and cost effectiveness, reamplification of the modulated channels with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) operated in the linear regime is highly desirable. System and device characterization indicate compatibility with the latter. While we expect channel counts to be primarily limited by the saturation output power level of the SOA, we estimate a single SOA to support more than eight channels. Prior to describing the system experiments, component design and detailed characterization results are reported including design and characterization of RRMs, ring-based resonant optical add-drop multiplexers (RR-OADMs) and thermal tuners, S-parameters resulting from the interoperation of RRMs and RR-OADMs, and characterization of Q-Dash SS-MLLs reamplified with a commercial SOA. Particular emphasis is placed on peaking effects in the transfer functions of RRMs and RR-OADMs resulting from transient effects in the optical domain, as well as on the characterization of SS-MLLs in regard to relative intensity noise (RIN), stability of the modes of operation, and excess noise after reamplification.

Hybrid silicon photonics flip-chip laser integration with vertical self-alignment

We present a flip-chip integration process in which the vertical alignment is guaranteed by a mechanical contact between pedestals defined in a recess etched into a silicon photonics chip and a laser or semiconductor optical amplifier. By selectively etching up to the active region of the III-V materials, we can make the accuracy of vertical alignment independent on the process control applied to layer thicknesses during silicon photonics or III-V chip fabrication, enabling alignment tolerances below ±10 nm in the vertical (Z-)direction.

High speed WDM interconnect using silicon photonics ring modulators and mode-locked laser

We demonstrate an 8 by 14 Gbps compatible WDM link based on a single-section semiconductor mode-locked laser, silicon photonics resonant ring modulators and joint channel reamplification with a semiconductor optical amplifier operated in the linear regime. Individual channels reach a data rate of 25 Gbps with signal quality-factors above 7.

Silicon photonics WDM interconnects based on resonant ring modulators and semiconductor mode locked laser

We demonstrate wavelength domain multiplexed (WDM) data transmission with a data rate of 14 Gbps based on optical carrier generation with a single-section semiconductor mode-locked laser (SS-MLL) and modulation with a Silicon Photonics (SiP) resonant ring modulator (RRM). 18 channels are sequentially measured, whereas the best recorded eye diagrams feature signal quality factors (Q-factors) above 7. While optical re-amplification was necessary to maintain the link budgets and therefore system measurements were performed with an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), preliminary characterization done with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) indicates compatibility with the latter pending the integration of an additional optical filter to select a subset of carriers and prevent SOA saturation. A systematic analysis of the relative intensity noise (RIN) of isolated comb lines and of signal Q-factors indicates that the link is primarily limited by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the EDFA rather than laser RIN. Measured RIN for single comb components is below -120 dBc/Hz in the range from 7 MHz to 4 GHz and drops to the shot noise level at higher frequencies.

Silicon Photonics Transmitter with SOA and Semiconductor Mode-Locked Laser

We experimentally investigate an optical link relying on silicon photonics transmitter and receiver components as well as a single section semiconductor mode-locked laser as a light source and a semiconductor optical amplifier for signal amplification. A transmitter based on a silicon photonics resonant ring modulator, an external single section mode-locked laser and an external semiconductor optical amplifier operated together with a standard receiver reliably supports 14 Gbps on-off keying signaling with a signal quality factor better than 7 for 8 consecutive comb lines, as well as 25 Gbps signaling with a signal quality factor better than 7 for one isolated comb line, both without forward error correction. Resonant ring modulators and Germanium waveguide photodetectors are further hybridly integrated with chip scale driver and receiver electronics, and their co-operability tested. These experiments will serve as the basis for assessing the feasibility of a silicon photonics wavelength division multiplexed link relying on a single section mode-locked laser as a multi-carrier light source.

WDM transceiver with semiconductor mode locked laser

We demonstrate a Silicon Photonics transmitter/receiver pair wire bonded to chip-scale electronics and operated with a single section semiconductor mode locked laser. The compact WDM system supports twelve independent error free (BER<;1e-12) 14 Gbps channels without error correction, preemphasis or equalization.

Stabilization and frequency control of a DFB laser with a tunable optical reflector integrated in a Silicon Photonics PIC

We investigate the effect of tunable filtered optical feedback on a commercial DFB laser edge coupled to a silicon photonic planar integrated circuit in which a tunable reflector has been implemented by means of a ring resonator-based add-drop multiplexer. Controlled optical feedback allows for fine-tuning of the laser oscillation frequency. Under certain conditions, it also allows suppression of bifurcation modes triggered by reflections occurring elsewhere on the chip. A semianalytical model describing laser dynamics under combined optical feedback from the input facet of the edge coupler and from the tunable on-chip reflector fits the measurements. Compensation of detrimental effects from reflections induced elsewhere on a transceiver chip may allow moving isolators downstream in future communications systems, facilitating direct hybrid laser integration in silicon photonic chips, provided a suitable feedback signal for a control system can be identified. Moreover, the optical frequency tuning at lower feedback levels can be used to form a rapidly tunable optical oscillator as part of an optical phase-locked loop, circumventing the problem of the thermal to free carrier effect crossover in the FM response of injection current-controlled semiconductor laser diodes.