Photo-Detectors Integrated with Resonant Tunneling Diodes

Sensors

Bruno Romeira²  Luis M. Pessoa³  Henrique M. Salgado³  Charles N. Ironside¹ 

[1] School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK; E-Mail:;Centro de Electrónica, Optoelectrónica e Telecomunicaçõe s (CEOT), Departamento de Física, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; E-Mail:;INESC TEC, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; E-Mails:

关键词: double barrier quantum well structures;    clock recovery;    microwave-photonics;    optical injection locking;    optoelectronic circuits;    oscillators;    photo-detectors;    radio-over-fiber;    resonant tunneling diodes;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s130709464

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We report on photo-detectors consisting of an optical waveguide that incorporates a resonant tunneling diode (RTD). Operating at wavelengths around 1.55 μm in the optical communications C band we achieve maximum sensitivities of around 0.29 A/W which is dependent on the bias voltage. This is due to the nature of RTD nonlinear current-voltage characteristic that has a negative differential resistance (NDR) region. The resonant tunneling diode photo-detector (RTD-PD) can be operated in either non-oscillating or oscillating regimes depending on the bias voltage quiescent point. The oscillating regime is apparent when the RTD-PD is biased in the NDR region giving rise to electrical gain and microwave self-sustained oscillations Taking advantage of the RTD's NDR distinctive characteristics, we demonstrate efficient detection of gigahertz (GHz) modulated optical carriers and optical control of a RTD GHz oscillator. RTD-PD based devices can have applications in generation and optical control of GHz low-phase noise oscillators, clock recovery systems, and fiber optic enabled radio frequency communication systems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.