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

用于城域和长途光通信系统的收发信机中的关键元件之一是用于提高高速光信号功率的光放大。然而，随着可插拔收发器的尺寸不断缩小，以增加光网络的密度和数据处理能力，目前基于掺铒光纤的光放大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，需要一种用于甚小形状因数(VSFF)放大的新技术平台。在这个项目中，我和我的研究团队将基于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Er-Yb共掺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使用低成本方法进行包装，这些方法可以很容易地转移到生产水平。Lumentum是光放大技术的世界领先者，正在为其下一代可插拔收发器寻找解决方案。该项目将使Lumentum在他们的光纤放大器路线图上实现飞跃，显著提高他们的竞争优势，同时带来关于集成Er-Yb光纤放大器的最小尺寸、输出功率限制、增益、信号偏振相关性以及整体设计和性能的新知识。

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.