Title :
Fabrication of an optoelectronic AlGaAs/GaAs waveguide neuron
Author :
Gupta, N. ; Simonis, G.J. ; Pham, J.
Author_Institution :
Army Res. Lab., Adelphi, MD, USA
Abstract :
A novel optical waveguide neuron is fabricated. It accepts two inputs, applies adjustable weights to them, sums the weighted inputs, and thresholds the sum to issue one output. An AlGaAs/GaAs p-i-n diode waveguide with a Wannier-Stark superlattice in the core is used. Two modulators and one saturable absorber are monolithically integrated on a 5- mu m rib waveguide Y-junction combiner. A simple self-aligned single-mask liftoff technique with wet chemical etching is used. At 780 nm the weights vary from 1 to -25 dB/mm for reverse bias below 7 V, and a 25-dB thresholding nonlinearity is obtained.<>
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; Stark effect; aluminium compounds; electro-optical devices; etching; gallium arsenide; integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; optical modulation; optical neural nets; optical saturable absorption; optical waveguides; p-i-n diodes; semiconductor superlattices; 5 micron; 780 nm; AlGaAs-GaAs; III-V semiconductor; Wannier-Stark superlattice; adjustable weights; electroabsorption; fabrication; modulators; monolithic integration; optical waveguide neuron; optoelectronic AlGaAs/GaAs waveguide neuron; p-i-n diode waveguide; reverse bias; rib waveguide Y-junction combiner; saturable absorber; simple self-aligned single-mask liftoff technique; thresholding nonlinearity; weighted inputs; wet chemical etching; Gallium arsenide; Neural networks; Neurons; Nonlinear optics; Optical device fabrication; Optical devices; Optical modulation; Optical superlattices; Optical waveguides; Waveguide components;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
