Long wavelength vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers

Abstract

This paper overviews the properties and possible applications of long wavelength vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs). A VCSOA operating in the 1.3-m wavelength region is presented. The device was fabricated using wafer bonding; it was optically pumped and operated in reflection mode. The reflectivity of the VCSOA top mirror was varied in the characterization of the device. Results are presented for 13 and 12 top mirror periods. By reducing the top mirror reflectivity, the amplifier gain, optical bandwidth, and saturation output power were simultaneously improved. For the case of 12 top mirror periods, we demonstrate 13-dB fiber-to-fiber gain, 0.6 nm (100 GHz) optical bandwidth, a saturation output power of 3 5 dBm and a noise figure of 8.3 dB. The switching properties of the VCSOA are also briefly investigated. By modulating the pump laser, we have obtained a 46-dB extinction ratio in the output power, with the maximum output power corresponding to 7-dB fiber-to-fiber gain. All results are for continuous wave operation at room temperature.

Characterization of GaAs-based n-n and p-n interface junctions prepared by direct wafer bonding

“…Wafer-level integration of various advanced high-speed/ high-frequency photonic and electronic devices on a single chip requires technologies to integrate different types of semiconductors in the lateral plane of the wafers. 1 To date, many integration technologies have been developed, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] including regrowth, selective area epitaxy, and repeated selective area direct wafer bonding ͑DWB͒. Over the past ten years, DWB has received considerable attention for integrating mismatched materials where heteroepitaxial growth would compromise device properties through a high density of misfit and threading dislocations.…”

Observation of bistability in a Vertical-Cavity Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (VCSOA)

“…In the past few years, VCSOAs have drawn increasing research attention [8,9]. As compared to in-plane SOAs, they exhibit several advantages including higher coupling efficiency to optical fibers and lower noise figure due to their circular geometry and small dimensions, respectively.…”

Tunable vertical-cavity SOAs: a unique combination of tunable filtering and optical gain

“…Moreover, the narrow gain bandwidth eliminates the need for an optical filter after the amplifier making VCSOAs ideal as preamplifiers in receiver modules [1]. Recently, both optically and electrically-pumped long-wavelength VCSOAs have been demonstrated which operate in the telecomrelevant long-wavelength range from 1.3 to 1.5 µm [2]- [5]. However, for many applications, a narrow-band amplifier with a fixed center wavelength is of limited use.…”

“…As an extension of fixed-wavelength VCSOAs, we have developed the first widely tunable VCSOAs through the use of an integrated electrostatic actuator [16], [17]. Similar to previous generations of fixed-wavelength VCSOAs [2], MT-VCSOAs operate in reflection mode and are optically pumped. The major difference in the tunable devices is the incorporation of a micromachined membrane structure, which is suspended above an air gap within the top DBR.…”