Optical: Collaborative Research: Bandgap Engineered Ultrafast Heterostructure Avalanche Photodiodes

该合作项目的目标是开发用于高容量光纤通信链路的高速、超低噪声雪崩光电二极管(APD)。该计划将有两个主要推动力：(1)设计和优化高性能APD的理论和模拟工作，以及(2)制造、表征和分配APD的实验计划。商用的APD已经被广泛部署在2.5 Gb/S光接收机中，但在10 Gb/S时还没有达到预期的性能优势，显然它们不足以满足未来的40 Gb/S系统。PIS建议通过引入基于PIS最近开发的APD技术的新结构和材料来显著提高APD的性能。其中包括(1)渐变耦合波导结构的发展和(2)优化碰撞电离工程倍增区的加入。高性能的40 Gb/S雪崩光电二极管接收器的可用性，以及10 Gb/S接收器灵敏度提高3到5分贝，将对大容量光传输系统产生重大影响。该计划的一个重要特点是开发人力资源，这些人将接受培训，以便在这个至关重要的领域工作。从事这个项目的学生将成为他们特定领域的专家，并将在光电子学领域获得广泛的理解。特别值得注意的是，作为参与机构之一，新墨西哥大学(UNM)是一所为少数群体服务的机构(40%的本科生属于少数群体，包括几个印第安人部落的成员)，这使私人投资机构有机会从代表人数不足的群体中招收本科生和研究生。私人投资主任继续将其研究经验的相关元素带到课堂上。这两个私人投资机构都积极参与和倡导网络强化教学。

0334771CampbellThe goal of this collaborative program is to develop high-speed, ultra-low-noise avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for high-capacity fiber optic communication links. The program will have two main thrusts: (1) a theoretical and simulation effort to design and optimize the high-performance APDs and (2) an experimental program to fabricate, characterize, and distribute the APDs. Commercially-available APDs have been widely deployed in 2.5 GB/s optical receivers but have not achieved the anticipated performance advantage at 10 GB/s and it appears unequivocal that they will not be adequate for future 40 GB/s systems. The PIs propose to significantly improve APD performance by introducing new structures and materials based on APD technologies that have recently been developed by the PIs. These include (1) the development of evanescently coupled waveguide structures and (2) the incorporation of optimized impact-ionization engineered multiplication regions. The availability of high-performance APD receivers at 40GB/s as well as 3 to 5 dB improvements in the sensitivity of 10GB/s receivers will have a momentous impact on high-capacity optical transmission systems.An important feature of the program is the development of human resources who will be trained to work in this critically important field. The students who work on this project will become experts in their particular area and will gain extensive understanding in the field of optoelectronics. Of particular note, one of the participating institutions, the University of New Mexico (UNM) is a minority-serving institution (40% of the undergraduate students belong to minority groups including members of several Indian tribes), which gives the PIs the opportunity to recruit undergraduate and graduate students from a pool of under-represented groups. The PIs continue to bring into the classroom relevant elements of their research experience. Both of the PIs' institutions have been actively involved in and advocating web-enhanced instruction.