Fabrication and Testing of Prototype Strongly Injection-Locked Whistle-Geometry Semiconductor Ring Lasers for Low-Energy High-Speed Data Readout
Abstract
FABRICATION AND TESTING OF PROTOTYPE STRONGLY INJECTION-LOCKED WHISTLE GEOMETRY SEMICONDUCTOR RING LASERS FOR LOW-ENERGY HIGH-SPEED DATA READOUTPI: Prof. Marek Osi~ski, Center for High Technology Materials, University of New MexicoPROJECT SUMMARYHigh-speed low-power superconducting single flux quantum (SFQ) digital circuit technology offerssignificant advantages over the currently dominant CMOS digital technology (that consumes too muchpower) for a wide range of applications, ranging from digital radio frequency receivers to highperformance computing. SFQ circuits can operate at frequencies over 100 GHz. Computers based onSFQ, however, have not been competitive due to lack of energy-efficient, high-bandwidth data links fromcryogenic superconducting circuits to room-temperature semiconductor circuits. From the energyefficiency point of view, an optical data link would have an obvious advantage over all-electrical metallinks in terms of much lower heat conductivity of optical fibers or windows (negligible heat leak) and lowsignal attenuation.To maximize the optical data link energy efficiency, one needs to develop a low-power, high-speedelectro-optic converter or modulator capable of working with a few mV signals (typical SFQ outputsignal is 1 ps pulses with an amplitude of ~1 mV, 10 - 50 ~ source impedance, and ideally > 100 GHzrepetition rate). A key capability under development at the University of New Mexico (UNM), directlypertinent to data egress in cryogenic computing systems, is the technology of strongly injection-lockedwhistle-geometry microring lasers (WRLs). They offer unprecedented, ultrahigh values of modulationbandwidth, exceeding 100 GHz, that is achievable by direct current modulation without any multiplexing.Based on excellent predicted high-speed performance of strongly injection-locked WRLs, UNM proposesdevelopment of prototype photonic integrated circuits (PICs) comprising a single-frequency master laser,an injecting waveguide, a strongly injection-locked WRL, a directional output coupler, and (optionally) ahigh-speed photodetector, all monolithically integrated on a single chip and therefore requiring no opticalingress or alignment. The WRL will be injection-locked by a stable single-frequency master lasermonolithically integrated on the same chip. The most promising material systems for a low-powerbroadband cryogenic optical data link on a chip will be identified. The analysis of strongly injection lockedWRLs previously performed for InP-based structures will be extended to cover various materialsystems and to compare their predicted performance. Commercial vendors of epitaxial wafers required forfabrication of PICs in selected material systems will be identified The PICs will be designed andfabricated at UNM. CW and ultrafast electrical and optical characterization of the PICs will be performedat UNM over a temperature range from 4 K to 350 K.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712416
Entities
People
- Marek Osinski
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New Mexico