Distributed feedback lasers and integrated laser arrays for wavelength-division multiplexing systems
| dc.contributor.advisor | Cheng, Julian | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Belkin, Mikhail A | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Yu, Edward T | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Shieh, Chan-Long | en |
| dc.creator | Li, Jingsi | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2015-09-01T20:01:45Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2014-05 | en |
| dc.date.submitted | May 2014 | en |
| dc.date.updated | 2015-09-01T20:01:46Z | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers and integrated laser arrays are of great importance in Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems in fiber optic communication systems. High-performance, low-cost DFB lasers and laser arrays are highly desirable for applications in intra-datacenter transport and in local access networks. This dissertation is focused on the design, fabrication and achievement of high-performance, low-cost DFB Lasers and Integrated DFB Arrays for WDM Systems. It investigates the use of a novel sampled grating approach, called the equivalent phase shift method, to achieve integrated DFB laser arrays with single-mode lasing at uniformly-spaced and precisely-positioned wavelengths. First, laterally-Coupled DFB (LC-DFB) lasers with first-order sidewall gratings are realized, with gratings fabricated by optical interference lithography instead of e-beam. Then, LC-DFB lasers and LC-DFB laser arrays with sampled gratings and equivalent phase shifts are proposed, numerically analyzed and experimentally demonstrated. Each LC-DFB laser with an equivalent quarter-wave phase shift is shown to lase at the pre-specified wavelength in a single longitudinal mode, with good side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) over a very wide range of injection currents. Integrated LC-DFB laser arrays with five uniformly-spaced wavelength channels are demonstrated, in close agreement with the design. For better performance, buried heterostructure (BH)-DFB laser and laser arrays are also demonstrated using the same sampled-grating technology. A 6-wavelenth laser array with a 300 μm cavity length and a 8-wavelength laser array with 250 μm cavity length are successively demonstrated, each showing precisely positioned lasing wavelengths, good SMSR, and uniformly good lasing characteristics under a wide range of operating currents and temperatures. Finally, it is demonstrated that the wavelength of a monolithic WDM laser array can be continuously tuned over a very wide wavelength range of nearly 40 nm. The proposed method offers a practical and cost-effective solution for the manufacture of high-performance, monolithic multi-wavelength DFB laser arrays as well as widely wavelength-tunable DFB lasers for integrated WDM systems. | en |
| dc.description.department | Electrical and Computer Engineering | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2152/30490 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.subject | Distributed Feedback laser | en |
| dc.subject | Semiconductor laser | en |
| dc.subject | Laser array | en |
| dc.title | Distributed feedback lasers and integrated laser arrays for wavelength-division multiplexing systems | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.department | Electrical and Computer Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Electrical and Computer Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | The University of Texas at Austin | en |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |