Monolithically integrated mode-locked ring lasers andMach-Zehnder interferometers in AlGaInAs

TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering

McMaster, Steven ; Sorel, Marc

University:University of Glasgow

Department:School of Engineering

关键词: Photonics, lasers, integration;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1831/1/2010mcmasterphd.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

In this thesis, monolithically integrated photonic devices for next generation opticaltelecommunications networks were investigated, namely semiconductor modelockedring lasers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers operating at 1550 nm. Fabricatedon the aluminium quaternary, the 2.3mm long passively mode-locked ringdevices produced 1 ps pulses at a repetition rate of around 36GHz. It was foundthat the symmetrically placed dual saturable absorber configuration lead to thelargest area of stable mode-locking, agreeing well with theoretical predictions inthe literature. Optical harmonic injection mode-locking was found to improve thepulse timing stability, with a reduction in the radio frequency 3 dB linewidth from1.4MHz down to 108 kHz, indicating a vast improvement in timing jitter. Thesputtered SiO2 quantum-well intermixing technique allowed for the realisation ofboth symmetric and asymmetric arm length Mach-Zehnder interferometers, whichwere demonstrated as an electro-optic switch, tunable wavelength filter and opticalcode division multiple access encoder/decoder. The work concluded with themonolithic integration of a mode-locked ring laser and asymmetric Mach-Zehnderinterferometer to demonstrate a simple, yet effective, photonic integrated circuit.