Exploration of InP Quantum Dot Coherent Frequency Comb Lasers and Mode-Locked Lasers

磷化铟(InP)是生产/集成有源和无源半导体器件以及大规模光子集成电路的关键半导体之一。量子点(QD)半导体激光器是近年来新兴的研究领域，也是光通信、光电子学和光子学中的关键器件之一，与传统的量子井(QW)激光器相比，具有许多优点。利用量子点可以获得更宽的光增益谱，更低的温度灵敏度，更高的饱和输出功率，更小的啁啾和更小的线宽增强因子，以及独立的多波长运转。也许更重要的是，当采用化学束外延方法制备单节多波长量子点激光器时，当激光器驱动电流超过一定水平时，可以成为相干频率梳光源和锁模激光器。与其他两段锁模激光器相比，QD锁模激光器具有更高的重复频率、更窄的脉冲宽度、更高的输出功率和更低的定时抖动。 目前，我们正在与国家研究委员会(NRC)合作开发InP量子点激光器(包括许多新的量子点激光器)。例如，具有10-100 GHz的重复率和低至295ps的脉冲宽度的QD锁模激光器、使用外腔的403-437 GHz重复脉冲、使用可调谐的外腔产生1-2.2太赫兹的可调太赫兹。此外，我们还建立了一个物理模型，并成功地应用于QD激光锁模的分析。 这项为期五年的研究项目旨在为量子点激光器的建模和设计建立全面的物理模型，这不仅是此类研究中的第一个，而且将成为量子点激光器设计优化的重要工具。我们还将研究新颖和新的量子点激光器物理结构设计，以实现更低的激光和锁模阈值，光学增益光谱和20 nm，调制带宽和20 GHz，相对强度噪声和射频线宽&1 kHz等。这对研究人员来说是一个真正的挑战。物理模型将使用商业软件应用程序创建，如Croslight和SilVaco技术计算机辅助设计(TCAD)，与我们的创新理论和模型相结合。这个新平台的用户可以直接从商业软件应用程序中部署基本功能，而我们可以为量子点激光器模型专门提供我们的新的、复杂的工具。在使用新工具对物理设计进行建模和优化后，NRC将帮助我们根据不同的量子数激光标准来制造它们。 这项新的研究将扩大和加强在InP激光器和光子集成电路方面的研究和培训，并将提供对量子点激光器建模和设计的全面研究，这将是加拿大和世界的一项资产。研制的激光器可应用于医学、光学传感、先进的光/无线通信和太赫兹发电。此外，加拿大经济将拥有所需的“高科技技能”，即受过“高水平教育”培训的HQP，他们将为工作做好准备。不会出现技能“不匹配”的情况。我们全面的HQP将受到NRC、渥太华的Ciena、渥太华的JDSU、魁北克的EXFO、加拿大爱立信、魁北克的TeraXion、渥太华的OneChip、渥太华的CRC、渥太华的英飞朗、渥太华的OZ Optics、渥太华的阿尔卡特-朗讯、蒙特利尔的Excelitas Technologies和蒙特利尔的ART Research and Technology等公司的追捧，我的一些HQP就在这些公司工作。 该项目将促进具有国际竞争力的研究，直接为加拿大的科学和技术需求做出贡献。

Indium phosphide (InP) is one of the key semiconductors for production/integration of active and passive semiconductor devices, and large-scale photonic integrated circuits. Recently, quantum-dot (QD) semiconductor lasers, an emerging research area and one of the key InP devices in optical communications, and optoelectronic and photonic devices, have many advantages when compared to conventional quantum well (QW) lasers. Use of QDs leads to a broader optical gain spectrum, lower temperature sensitivity, higher saturation output power, smaller chirp and smaller linewidth enhancement factor, as well as the independent multi-wavelength operation. Perhaps more importantly, one-section multi-wavelength QD lasers can become coherent frequency comb sources and mode-locked lasers when the laser driving current is beyond a certain level when the QD lasers are fabricated by chemical beam epitaxy. Moreover, the QD model-locked lasers have higher repetition rate, ultra-narrower pulse width, higher output power and lower timing jitter than any other two-section mode-locked lasers. Currently, we are collaborating with National Research Council (NRC) on InP QD lasers (including many new QD lasers). Examples are the QD mode-locked lasers having repetition rate of 10-100 GHz and pulse width of down to 295 fs, 403-437 GHz repetition pulses using external cavities, tunable terahertz generation of 1-2.2 THz using tunable external cavities. In addition, we have developed a physical model that has been successfully applied to the analysis of QD laser mode-locking. This five year research project is proposed to develop comprehensive physical models for QD laser modeling and design, which will not only be first of its kind but also an important tool for QD laser design optimization. We will also investigate novel and new designs of QD laser physical structures for achieving lower threshold for lasing and mode-locking, optical gain spectrum > 20 nm, modulation bandwidth > 20 GHz, relative intensity noise < -140 dB/Hz, and RF linewidth < 1 KHz etc.. This is a real challenge to researchers. Physical models will be created using the commercial software applications like Crosslight and Silvaco technology computer aided design (TCAD) integrating with our innovative theories and models. Users of this new platform can deploy the basic functions directly from the commercial software applications while we can dedicate our new, sophisticated tools for the QD lasers models. Upon using the new tool to model and optimize the physical designs, NRC will then help us fabricate them with regard to the different QD laser criteria. This novel research will expand and strengthen research and training in InP lasers and photonic integrated circuits, and will deliver a comprehensive study of QD laser modeling and design which will be an asset to Canada and the world. The developed lasers can have applications to medicine,optical sensing, advanced optical /wireless communications and THz generation. Moreover, the Canadian economy will have the needed “high-tech skills”, the “sophisticated level of education” trained HQP who will be job-ready. There will be no skills “mismatch” . Our well-rounded HQP will be sought after by NRC, Ciena in Ottawa, JDSU in Ottawa, EXFO in Quebec, Ericsson Canada, TeraXion in Quebec, OneChip in Ottawa, CRC in Ottawa, Infinera in Ottawa, OZ Optics in Ottawa, Alcatel-Lucent in Ottawa, Excelitas Technologies in Montreal, and ART Research and Technology in Montreal etc, where some of my HQP are working. This project will foster internationally competitive research directly contributing to Canada's science and technology needs.