Open AccessLong cavity photonic crystal laser in FDML operation using an akinetic reflective filter
Author(s) -
Sharon M. Butler,
Praveen K. J. Singaravelu,
L. О’Faolain,
Stephen P. Hegarty
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.410525
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , photonic crystal , laser , resonator , narrowband , photonics , optical cavity , optoelectronics , interferometry , physics
A novel configuration of a Fourier domain mode locked (FDML) laser based on silicon photonics platform is presented in this work that exploits the narrowband reflection spectrum of a photonic crystal (PhC) cavity resonator. Configured as a linear Fabry-Perot laser, forward biasing of a p-n junction on the PhC cavity allowed for thermal tuning of the spectrum. The modulation frequency applied to the reflector equalled the inverse roundtrip time of the long cavity resulting in stable FDML operation over the swept wavelength range. An interferometric phase measurement measured the sweeping instantaneous frequency of the laser. The silicon photonics platform has potential for very compact implementation, and the electro-optic modulation method opens the possibility of modulation speeds far beyond those of mechanical filters.