Vertical Intra-Cavity Pumped Erbium-Doped Waveguide Amplifier on GaAs

University Of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN

Investigators

Abstract

Objective: This research targets a new approach for realizing high-performance erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) for wavelength division multiplexed optical fiber communication networks at a cost suitable for widespread metropolitan area network deployment. Intellectual Merit: The merit of this effort lies in a proposed GaAs-based EDWA which incorporates recent patent-pending discoveries: a high quality oxidized InAlP erbium host material, and oxidation-smoothed low-loss high-index-contrast ridge waveguides enabled by a relatively new nonselective wet thermal oxidation technique, with a novel resonant vertical intra-cavity pumping (VIP) scheme for the compact, monolithic integration of a resonant-enhanced excitation source. The phosphate-rich InAlP native oxides afford very high Er doping concentrations with long fluorescence decay lifetimes and a very broad amplification band. VIP excitation offers high pumping efficiency, even pump distribution, multi-stage pumping for noise control, simplified packaging, and the possibility for increased photonic integration. Broader Impacts: The impacts of this work flow from the expected significant reductions in component cost which will benefit society by making ultra-high-speed multi-wavelength optical communications viable for the home, schools and medical offices, thus promoting the accelerated development and adoption of bandwidth-intensive applications such as digital video, video conferencing, and internet communications across multiple platforms. The research may also lead to eye-safe high-energy pulsed waveguide laser sources for range finding and broadband amplified spontaneous emission sources for chemical sensing. The project promotes teaching, training and learning through the integration of research activities with teaching of undergraduate engineering majors, Research Experience for Teachers participants, and the mentoring of underrepresented minorities.