A Widely Tunable Narrow Linewidth RF Source Integrated in a Heterogeneous Photonic Module

Author

Grund, D.W. ; Ejzak, G.A. ; Schneider, Garrett J. ; Murakowski, Janusz ; Prather, Dennis W.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

Volume

32

Issue

7

fYear

2014

fDate

1-Apr-14

Firstpage

1363

Lastpage

1369

Abstract

Generating radio-frequency signals over the entire spectrum, from 1 to 100 GHz, typically requires the use of multiple oscillators designed only for specific narrow bands of operation within that spectrum. An optoelectronic system based on modulation side-band-injection-locked lasers is capable of generating RF frequencies tunable over a span of more than seven octaves with low phase noise . We present the results of our efforts to develop a heterogeneously integrated version of this system based on a silicon-photonic integrated circuit coupled to III-V semiconductor gain chips. Towards that end, we have successfully demonstrated an integrated laser module and achieved tunable RF generation with a ~ 1 Hz linewidth.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; semiconductor lasers; silicon; III-V semiconductor gain chips; Si; frequency 1 GHz to 100 GHz; heterogeneous photonic module; integrated laser module; modulation side-band-injection-locked lasers; multiple oscillators; optical design; optoelectronic system; radiofrequency signal generation; silicon-photonic integrated circuit; widely tunable narrow linewidth radiofrequency source; Frequency modulation; Harmonic analysis; Laser tuning; Radio frequency; Silicon; Heterogeneous integration; RF photonics; injection locking; phase modulation; silicon photonics; tunable source;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2014.2302138

Filename

6719558