Hybrid Chip-Scale Frequency Combs Combining III-V Quantum-Dash Mode-Locked Lasers and High-Q Silicon-Nitride Microresonators

芯片级光学频率梳发生器有可能彻底改变科学和工业中的许多应用，包括使用大规模并行波分复用（WDM）的高通量光通信，超快速光学测距和激光雷达，以及超宽带光电子信号处理。然而，虽然实验室实验显示了这种方案的非凡潜力，但在实际应用中的实际可行性仍然受到目前可用的梳状源的根本缺陷的限制。具体来说，目前还没有梳状发生器的概念，可以提供宽带平滑光谱，具有低光线宽和相位噪声，同时在芯片级封装中提供简单和节能的操作。HybridCombs旨在通过探索、设计、实现和实验展示一种新型芯片级频率梳源来克服这一缺陷，这种梳源结合了孤子克尔梳的独特优势和基于低维III-V化合物的锁模激光器的优势。在技术层面上，我们的方法依赖于混合多芯片模块，该模块将量子dash锁模激光二极管（QD-MLLD）或基于qd的反射半导体光放大器（QD-RSOA）与专门共同设计的基于线性和非线性氮化硅（SiN-）的光子电路相结合，从而融合了两个集成平台的互补优势。在项目中，我们将建立一个详细的理论框架，通过光学线性和非线性氮化硅反馈电路定量描述QD-MLLD或QD-RSOA的多音注入锁定，设计和实现底层III-V和SiN器件，并通过先进的3d打印光学耦合元件将它们组合起来。基于这些基础，我们将实现在线宽和功耗方面具有前所未有性能参数的混合芯片级梳状源，并通过实验证明其在大规模并行光通信，高精度光学测距或超宽带光电子信号处理等选定应用中的实际可行性。该项目财团由来自法国和德国的国际领先团队组成，他们处于一个完美的位置，可以在国际科学前沿处理拟议的研究。我们期望设想的梳状源的成功演示将对一系列工业和科学应用产生变革性影响，这些应用可以由联盟内的合作伙伴有效地解决。

Chip-scale optical frequency comb generators have the potential to revolutionize many applications in science and industry, comprising high-throughput optical communications using massively parallel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), ultra-fast optical ranging and LiDAR, as well as ultrabroadband photonic-electronic signal processing. However, while laboratory experiments have shown the extraordinary potential of such schemes, the practical viability in real applications is still limited by fundamental deficiencies of currently available comb sources. Specifically, there is at present no comb generator concept that can provide broadband smooth spectra with low optical linewidth and phase noise, while offering simple and power-efficient operation in a chip-scale package. HybridCombs aims at overcoming this lack by exploring, designing, implementing, and experimentally demonstrating a novel class of chip-scale frequency comb sources, that combine the distinct advantages of soliton Kerr combs with those of mode-locked lasers based on low-dimensional III-V compounds. On a technological level, our approach relies on hybrid multi-chip modules that combine quantum-dash mode-locked laser diodes (QD-MLLD) or QD-based reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-RSOA) with specifically co-designed linear and nonlinear silicon-nitride-(SiN-)based photonic circuits, thereby merging the complementary strengths of the two integration platforms. Within the project, we shall establish a detailed theoretical framework that allows to quantitatively describe multi-tone injection locking of QD-MLLD or QD-RSOA by optically linear and nonlinear silicon-nitride feedback circuits, design and realize the underlying III-V and SiN devices, and combine them by means of advanced 3D-printed optical coupling elements. Based on these foundations, we will realize hybrid chip-scale comb sources with unprecedented performance parameters in terms of linewidth and power consumption and experimentally demonstrate their practical viability in selected applications such as massively parallel optical communications, high-precision optical ranging, or ultra-broadband photonic-electronic signal processing. The project consortium consists of internationally leading teams from France and Germany, that are in a perfect position to tackle the proposed research at the international forefront of science. We expect that successful demonstration of the envisaged comb sources will be of transformative impact to a series of industrial and scientific applications that can be efficiently addressed by the partners within the consortium.