Innovative Silicon and InP Integrated Photonic Devices for RF Frequency Downconversion

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of radio-frequency (RF) signals using stabilizedintegrated semiconductor lasers. The lasers are monolithically integrated on the same chip using InPactive-passive integration technology. They are locked to different resonances of the same externaloptical cavity using the Pound-Drever-Hall locking technique. The locking is implement with a singlecontrol loop for each laser and by voltage controlled tuning thus avoiding significant thermal effects.The generated RF signal can be tuned discretely to frequencies that are multiples of the external opticalcavity free spectral range. Examples of beat tones at 12.436, 24.8735 and 40.4194 GHz are demonstrated. The linewidth of the generated signals at all frequencies is less than 40 kHz. Thesingle-side-band phase noise is about -54 dBc/Hz for frequencies offsets from the carrier at 12.436GHz between 1 kHz and 10 kHz and -60 and -67 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz and 1 MHz respectively. Wealso demonstrate the realization of silicon photonics-based RF modulators. Optimized structures aredesigned and realized for 30 GHz operation, including a resonant Si Mach-Zehnder modulator and atraveling wave Mach-Zehnder modulator.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 13, 2019
Accession Number
AD1096390

Entities

People

  • E.A.J.M. Bente
  • Günther Roelkens
  • Kasper Van Gasse
  • Stefanos Andreon

Organizations

  • Ghent University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • 5G Wireless Networks
  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Analyzers
  • Bandwidth
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Distributed Bragg Reflectors
  • Frequency Combs
  • Lasers
  • Microwave Photonics
  • Modulation
  • Modulators
  • Optomechanics
  • Photonic Devices
  • Photonic Integrated Circuits
  • Photonics
  • Radio Frequency
  • Resonance
  • Semiconductors
  • Signal Generation
  • Silicon Photonics
  • Transmission Lines
  • Traveling Waves
  • Waveguides

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics