Very-small-form-factor on-chip er-yb optical amplifiers

光放大器是城域和长途光通信系统收发器的关键部件之一，用于提高高速光信号的功率。然而，随着可插拔光模块的尺寸不断缩小，光网络的密度和数据处理能力不断提高，目前基于掺铒光纤的光放大器技术将不再满足收发模块的尺寸限制。对于未来的通信系统，需要一种新的技术平台来实现小尺寸（VSFF）放大。在这个项目中，我和我的研究团队将利用我们在紧凑型集成稀土掺杂波导放大器方面的专业知识，与行业合作伙伴Lumentum一起提供VSFF放大解决方案。放大器将基于铒镱（Er-Yb）共掺杂的玻璃薄膜和微小硅芯片上的光波导。它们将在麦克马斯特大学制造，并在Lumentum使用低成本方法包装，可以很容易地转移到生产水平。Lumentum是光放大器技术的全球领导者，正在寻求下一代可插拔收发器的解决方案。该项目将使Lumentum在其光放大器路线图上取得飞跃，并显着提高其竞争优势，同时在最小尺寸，输出功率限制，增益，信号偏振依赖性以及集成Er-Yb光放大器的整体设计和性能方面获得新的知识。

One of the critical elements in transceivers for Metro and Long-haul optical communications systems is an optical amplifier for boosting the power of the high-speed optical signal. However, as the size of pluggable transceivers continuously shrinks to increase the density and data handling capacity of optical networks, current optical amplifier technology, based on erbium-doped optical fiber, will no longer satisfy the size constraints of the transceiver module. For future communications systems a new technology platform for very small form factor (VSFF) amplification is required. In this project my research team and I will build on our expertise in compact, integrated rare-earth-doped waveguide amplifiers to provide a VSFF amplification solution together with industry partner Lumentum. The amplifiers will be based on erbium-ytterbium (Er-Yb) co-doped glass thin films and optical waveguides on tiny silicon chips. They will be fabricated at McMaster University and packaged at Lumentum using low cost methods that can be easily transferred to a production level. Lumentum is a world leader in optical amplifier technology and is seeking solutions for the next generation of its pluggable transceivers. This project will allow Lumentum to leap forward on their optical amplifier roadmap and significantly increase their competitive advantage, while leading to new knowledge about the minimum size, output power limitations, gain, signal polarization dependency and overall design and performance of integrated Er-Yb optical amplifiers.