STTR Phase I: High Speed, High Power, Single Mode Photonic Crystal Lasers

这个小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是证明基于横向受限光子晶体腔的半导体激光技术的可行性。拟议的激光技术可以确保美国境内的半导体和微电子供应链的安全，用于节能高容量数据中心链路能力，用于自动驾驶/飞行器的光探测和测距（LiDAR）系统，高性能通信和传感系统等。这种新颖的解决方案可能会加速技术发展，弥补技术和市场差距，并促进具有重要社会影响的创业精神。该项目将有助于培养半导体生产、纳米技术、光子学和光学以及先进制造业方面的多元化劳动力。这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目旨在开发和商业化具有单模、高功率输出的高速光子晶体表面发射激光器（PCSELs）。PCSEL提供了传统激光器的综合属性，并展示了大孔径的高功率单模操作。为了解决孔径小至几微米的高速PCSELs的空腔缩放问题，提出了一种新的横向空腔约束结构。这种侧约束结构可以提供强光约束和紧凑的侧电荷约束，以提高固有调制速度和减少寄生效应。调制速度和光功率之间的权衡将被研究。垂直腔反馈也将纳入和优化光子寿命管理。该项目的目标是研究PCSEL腔内不同的光反馈配置，将腔尺寸缩小到几微米，以实现单模、高功率和高速运行。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to demonstrate the viability of a semiconductor laser technology based on laterally confined photonic crystal cavities. The proposed laser technology may ensure secure semiconductor and microelectronic supply chains within US for energy-efficient high-capacity data center link capabilities, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems for autonomous driving/aerial vehicles, high performance communication and sensing systems, etc. The novel solution may accelerate technology development, address technical and market gaps, and foster entrepreneurship with important social impacts. The project will help prepare a diversified workforce skilled in semiconductor production, nanotechnology, photonics and optics, and advanced manufacturing.This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project seeks to develop and commercialize high speed photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) with single-mode, high power output. PCSEL offers the combined attributes of conventional lasers with demonstrated high-power, single-mode operations from large apertures. To address the cavity scaling challenges in high speed PCSELs with aperture sizes down to a few micrometers, a novel lateral cavity confinement configuration is proposed. Such a lateral confinement configuration can offer both strong optical confinement and compact lateral charge confinement for increased intrinsic modulation speed and reduced parasitic effects. The trade-offs between the modulation speed and optical power will be investigated. Vertical cavity feedbacks will also be incorporated and optimized for photon lifetime management. The objective of this project is to investigate different optical feedback configurations in the PCSEL cavities to scale the cavity sizes down to a few micrometers with the goal of single-mode, high power, and high-speed operation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.