Tunable hybrid laser with carrier-induced phase control
First Claim
1. A tunable laser comprising:
- a substrate comprising a silicon material and a recess;
a gain medium disposed in the recess in the substrate, wherein the gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material;
a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium;
a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate;
a carrier-based phase modulator optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, wherein the carrier-based phase modulator introduces charge carriers into a wave-guiding portion of the tunable laser between the gain medium and the first wavelength selective element to extinguish lasing of the tunable laser;
a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, wherein the second reflectance spectrum overlaps a portion of the first reflectance spectrum such that the tunable laser operates at a single-mode output;
an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide;
an output mirror; and
a phase adjustment section for correction of phase misalignment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tunable laser includes a substrate comprising a silicon material, a gain medium coupled to the substrate, wherein the gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material, and a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium. The tunable laser also includes a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate and a carrier-based phase modulator optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element. The tunable laser further includes a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide, and an output mirror.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tunable laser comprising:
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a substrate comprising a silicon material and a recess; a gain medium disposed in the recess in the substrate, wherein the gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material; a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium; a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate; a carrier-based phase modulator optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, wherein the carrier-based phase modulator introduces charge carriers into a wave-guiding portion of the tunable laser between the gain medium and the first wavelength selective element to extinguish lasing of the tunable laser; a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, wherein the second reflectance spectrum overlaps a portion of the first reflectance spectrum such that the tunable laser operates at a single-mode output; an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide; an output mirror; and a phase adjustment section for correction of phase misalignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a tunable laser, the method comprising:
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providing a hybrid resonator cavity including a gain material and a waveguide structure coupled to the gain material, wherein the hybrid resonator cavity comprises a substrate having a recess and the gain material is disposed in the recess in the substrate; transmitting light through the waveguide structure; correcting phase misalignment of the light through the waveguide structure by heating a phase adjustment section; splitting the waveguide structure into a set of reflection legs; directing a first portion of the light in the waveguide structure to propagate through a first phase modulator; directing a second portion of the light in the waveguide structure to propagate through a second phase modulator; adjusting a phase in at least one of the first phase modulator or the second phase modulator by introducing charge carriers into a wave-guiding portion of the at least one of the first phase modulator or the second phase modulator; reflecting light passing through the first phase modulator; reflecting light passing through the second phase modulator; and recombining light reflected from the set of reflection legs. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification