GOALI/EAGER: Investigation of Bulk Fabrication of 1.3um Quantum Dot Distributed Feedback Lasers for Uncooled and Analog Sources

目的半导体激光器对现代通信具有重要意义，因为它在光纤上传输信息时提供了巨大的带宽。量子点（QD）激光器（基于小块材料）比标准技术（基于薄层材料的量子阱（qw））具有显著优势，包括更高的温度不敏感性和固有的低芯片。然而，量子点激光器还没有被应用到商业激光发射机中，很大程度上是因为在技术上重要的波长范围内，还没有全息制造的、无损耗的单模量子点器件被证明。目的是用商业上可行的技术演示这些设备的制造。由于这项工作将与Ortel-Emcore（一家半导体激光公司）直接合作完成，因此设备的成功制造将立即导致对其在电信应用中的采用的调查。通过无损耗器件，可以最终评估单模量子点激光器的固有性能和基本限制。这种提出的单模激光器混合生长方法将成为广泛采用量子点材料进入电信市场的使能技术。更广泛的影响量子点材料的许多优点表明，它的应用将优于量子阱激光器。这项技术将推动低成本、高带宽光通信链路的发展。密切的产学研合作，包括奥特尔科学家在宾厄姆顿举办的研讨会，奥特尔和当地工业的PI举办的研讨会，以及奥特尔- emcore的研究生的现场工作，都是该项目的重要组成部分，对参与其中的学生来说将是极好的经历。

ObjectiveSemiconductor lasers are of great importance to modern communication because of the enormous bandwidth they provide in transmitting information over optical fibers. Quantum dot (QD) lasers (based on small clumps of material) haves significant advantages over the standard technology (which are quantum wells (QWs) based on thin layers of material), including much greater temperature-insensitivity and inherently low chip. However, QD-lasers have not been adopted into commercial laser transmitters largely because no holographically-fabricated, loss-free, single-mode QD-devices at the technologically-important wavelength ranges have yet been demonstrated. The objective is to demonstrate the fabrication of these devices with commercially-feasible techniques. Intellectual MeritBecause the work will be done in direct collaboration with Ortel-Emcore (a semiconductor laser company), successful fabrication of the devices will lead immediately to investigation of their adoption into telecommunications applications. With loss-free devices, the inherent performance and fundamental limits of single-mode QD lasers can be finally evaluated. This proposed mixed-growth method for single mode lasers will be an enabling technology for the widespread adoption of QD material into the telecommunications market. Broader ImpactsThe many advantages of QD material suggest applications where it would be superior to quantum well lasers. This technology will drive lower-cost, high-bandwidth optical communications links. The close industrial-academic collaboration, including seminars by Ortel scientists given at Binghamton, seminars by the PI at Ortel and local industries, and on-site work by a graduate student at Ortel-Emcore, are a valuable component to this project and will be excellent experience for the students involved.