Open AccessFrequency modulated hybrid photonic crystal laser by thermal tuning
Author(s) -
Sharon M. Butler,
Andrei P. Bakoz,
Praveen K. J. Singaravelu,
Alexandros A. Liles,
Ben O’Shaughnessy,
Evgeny A. Viktorov,
L. О’Faolain,
Stephen P. Hegarty
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.011312
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , laser , optoelectronics , resonator , semiconductor laser theory , modulation (music) , distributed bragg reflector , silicon , reflector (photography) , photonic crystal , frequency modulation , longitudinal mode , optical cavity , semiconductor , wavelength , physics , radio frequency , telecommunications , light source , computer science , acoustics
We demonstrate frequency modulation (FM) in an external cavity (EC) III-V/silicon laser, comprising a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) and a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide vertically coupled to a 2D silicon photonic crystal (PhC) cavity. The PhC cavity acts as a tunable narrowband reflector giving wavelength selectivity. The FM was achieved by thermo-optical modulation of the reflector via a p-n junction. Single-mode operation was ensured by the short cavity length, overlapping only one longitudinal laser mode with the reflector. We investigate the effect of reflector modulation theoretically and experimentally and predict a substantial tracking of the resonator by the laser frequency with very small intensity modulation (IM).