Mohand Achouche

An introduction to InP-based generic integration technology

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are considered as the way to make photonic systems or subsystems cheap and ubiquitous. PICs still are several orders of magnitude more expensive than their microelectronic counterparts, which has restricted their application to a few niche markets. Recently, a novel approach in photonic integration is emerging which will reduce the R&D and prototyping costs and the throughput time of PICs by more than an order of magnitude. It will bring the application of PICs that integrate complex and advanced photonic functionality on a single chip within reach for a large number of small and larger companies and initiate a breakthrough in the application of Photonic ICs. The paper explains the concept of generic photonic integration technology using the technology developed by the COBRA research institute of TU Eindhoven as an example, and it describes the current status and prospects of generic InP-based integration technology.

Transmission of 16.4-bit/s Capacity Over 2550 km Using PDM QPSK Modulation Format and Coherent Receiver

A record capacity distance product of 41.8 Petabit/s middotkm is demonstrated. A total of 164 channels are modulated at 100 Gbit/s with PDM-QPSK format, packed with 2 bit/s/Hz information spectral density and recovered by off-line processing in a coherent receiver after 2550 km distance.

DISCUS: an end-to-end solution for ubiquitous broadband optical access

Fiber to the premises has promised to increase the capacity in telecommunications access networks for well over 30 years. While it is widely recognized that optical-fiber-based access networks will be a necessity in the short to medium-term future, its large upfront cost and regulatory issues are pushing many operators to further postpone its deployment, while installing intermediate unambitious solutions such as fiber to the cabinet. Such high investment cost of both network access and core capacity upgrade often derives from poor planning strategies that do not consider the necessity to adequately modify the network architecture to fully exploit the cost benefit that a fiber-centric solution can bring. DISCUS is a European Framework 7 Integrated Project that, building on optical-centric solutions such as long-reach passive optical access and flat optical core, aims to deliver a cost-effective architecture for ubiquitous broadband services. DISCUS analyzes, designs, and demonstrates end-to-end architectures and technologies capable of saving cost and energy by reducing the number of electronic terminations in the network and sharing the deployment costs among a larger number of users compared to current fiber access systems. This article describes the network architecture and the supporting technologies behind DISCUS, giving an overview of the concepts and methodologies that will be used to deliver our end-to-end network solution.

High performance evanescent edge coupled waveguide unitraveling-carrier photodiodes for >40-gb/s optical receivers

We have demonstrated a low-cost high-bandwidth and high-responsivity evanescent waveguide unitravelling-carrier photodiode (PD) fabricated using all 2-in InP processing including on-wafer mirrors and coating. Optimization of the optical input waveguide was made using the method of the genetic algorithm associated with a beam propagation method. Optical fiber coupling to the PD is based on a diluted multimode waveguide allowing simple material epitaxial growth. The fabricated PDs exhibit simultaneously 0.76-A/W responsivity at 1.55 /spl mu/m, >50-GHz bandwidth, and more than 22-mA average saturation photocurrent at 50 GHz. The light polarization dependence is less than 0.1 dB.

High-Power High-Linearity Uni-Traveling-Carrier Photodiodes for Analog Photonic Links

We have fabricated and characterized two high-power high-linearity uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) structures. The UTC performances are compared regarding their respective collector design. A -3-dB bandwidth improvement (from 16-25 GHz to 19-32 GHz) is achieved when the collector layer thickness is increased (from 250 to 350 nm, respectively). The bandwidth improvement for large photocurrent is at the origin of a ldquosupra-linearityrdquo effect. Photocurrent saturation effects are investigated and -1-dB compression current measurements at 20 GHz show saturation currents as high as 70 mA at -4 V. We also report third-order intermodulation distortion measurements at 20 GHz. The ldquosupra-linearityrdquo effect enhances the PD linearity with increased photocurrent, leading to a record third-order intercept point of 35 dBm at 40 mA.

High Responsivity and High Power UTC and MUTC GaInAs-InP Photodiodes

We have developed a high-performance uni-traveling-carrier (UTC) and a modified uni-traveling-carrier (MUTC) photodiode (PD). We report a comparison between the two devices comprising both a 1.5- μm-thick absorption layer followed by a 0.5-μm-thick transparent collector layer. Both devices showed simultaneously a high responsivity (larger than 0.92 A/W at 1.55 μm), a high saturation current (larger than 100 mA at 10 GHz), and a high linearity (OIP3 of 35 dBm at 10 GHz). Thanks to a partly depleted absorber, the MUTC-PD is demonstrated to achieve a higher bandwidth (more than 20 GHz at high current), while the UTC-PD is demonstrated to achieve a higher saturation current and a less voltage dependent radio-frequency and linearity characteristics.

Evanescently coupled photodiodes integrating a double-stage taper for 40-Gb/s applications-compared performance with side-illuminated photodiodes

The design, fabrication, and performance of double-stage taper photodiodes (DSTPs) are reported. The objective of this work is to develop devices compatible with 40-Gb/s applications. Such devices require high efficiency, ultrawide band, high optical power handling capability, and compatibility with low-cost module fabrication. The integration of mode size converters improves both the coupling efficiency and the responsivity with a large fiber mode diameter. Responsivity of 0.6 A/W and 0.45 A/W are achieved with a 6-/spl mu/m fiber mode diameter and cleaved fiber, respectively, providing relaxed alignment tolerances (/spl plusmn/1.6 /spl mu/m and /spl plusmn/2 /spl mu/m, respectively), compatible with cost-effective packaging techniques. DSTPs also offer a wide bandwidth greater than 40 GHz and transverse-electric/transverse-magnetic polarization dependence lower than 0.2 dB. Furthermore, a DSTP saturation current as high as 11 mA results in optical power handling greater than +10 dBm and a high output voltage of 0.8 V. These capabilities allow the photodiode to drive the decision circuit without the need of a broad-band electrical amplifier. The DSTP devices presented here demonstrate higher responsivities with large fiber mode diameter and better optical power handling capabilities and are compared with classical side-illuminated photodiodes.

High Gain

This letter demonstrates a planar junction GalnAs-AlInAs avalanche photodiode using back-side illumination through thinned InP substrate covered with chemical vapor deposition SiNx antireflection coating. The combined properties of very low dark current (I dark(M = 0) = 17 nA), low excess noise factor (f(M = 10) = 3.5), and high gain x bandwidth product over 140 GHz were simultaneously achieved with a high primary responsivity of 0.95 A/W at 1.55 mum.

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We report two uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (PD) structures, for high-power and high-linearity applications. Using a thick collection layer (500 nm), the fabricated 25-m-diameter PDs achieve a 3-dB bandwidth up to 29 GHz, and a maximum dissipated heat power of about 480 mW, simultaneously. A new collector design with a nonuniform doping profile is proposed to better relax the space charge effect. Its performances are compared to a uniformly doped collector layer. Saturation currents and third-order intermodulation distortion measurements at 20 GHz confirm the advantage of the new collector design for high-power and high-linearity performances: 1-dB saturation current as high as 120 mA and a third-order intercept point in excess of 35 dBm at 70 mA are recorded.

Bandwidth Product Over 140-GHz Planar Junction AlInAs Avalanche Photodiodes

We demonstrate an AlInAs-InGaAs separate absorption, grading, and multiplication avalanche photodiode (APD) with a very thin avalanche layer operating at 1550 nm for 10-Gb/s optical transmission achieving simultaneously high responsivity (0.9 A/W at M = 1), very low excess noise factor (F(M=10) = 3), and very high gain-bandwidth product of 240 GHz. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a back-side illuminated planar junction AlInAs-InGaAs APD achieved such performances.