Terahertz Generation Using Implanted InGaAs Photomixers and Multi-wavelength Quantum Dot Lasers

We report on a study of terahertz(THz) generation using implanted In Ga As photomixers and multi-wavelength quantum dot lasers. We carry out In Ga As materials growth, optical characterization, device design and fabrication, and photomixing experiments. This approach is capable of generating a comb of electromagnetic radiation from microwave to terahertz. For shortening photomixer carrier lifetime, we employ proton implantation into an epitaxial layer of lattice matched In Ga As grown on InP. Under a 1.55 μm multimode In GaAs/In GaAsP quantum dot laser excitation, a frequency comb with a constant frequency spacing of 50 GHz generated on the photomixer is measured, which corresponds to the beats of the laser longitudinal modes. The measurement is performed with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. This approach affords a convenient method to achieve a broadband multi-peak coherent THz source.

Numerical investigation on photonic microwave generation by a sole excited-state emitting quantum dot laser with optical injection and optical feedback

Based on three-level exciton model,the enhanced photonic microwave signal generation by using a sole excited-state(ES)emitting quantum dot(QD)laser under both optical injection and optical feedback is numerically studied.Within the range of period-one(P1)dynamics caused by the optical injection,the variations of microwave frequency and microwave intensity with the parameters of frequency detuning and injection strength are demonstrated.It is found that the microwave frequency can be continuously tuned by adjusting the injection parameters,and the microwave intensity can be enhanced by changing the injection strength.Moreover,considering that the generated microwave has a wide linewidth,an optical feedback loop is further employed to compress the linewidth,and the effect of feedback parameters on the linewidth is investigated.It is found that with the increase of feedback strength or delay time,the linewidth is evidently decreased due to the locking effect.However,for the relatively large feedback strength or delay time,the linewidth compression effect becomes worse due to the gradually destroyed P1 dynamics.Besides,through optimizing the feedback parameters,the linewidth can be reduced by up to more than one order of magnitude for different microwave frequencies.

Large Signal Modulation Characteristics in the Transition Regime for Two-State Lasing Quantum Dot Lasers

Large-signal modulation capability, as an important performance indicator, is directly related to the high-speed optical communication technology involved. We experimentally and theoretically investigate the large-signal modulation characteristics of the simultaneous ground-state （GS） and the excited-state （ES） lasing in InAs/OaAs quantum dot laser diodes. The large-signal modulation capability of total light intensity in the transition regime from OS lasing to two-state lasing is unchanged as the bias-current increases. However, GS and ES large-signal eye diagrams show obvious variations during the transition. Relaxation oscillations and large-signal eye diagrams for OS, ES, and total light intensities are numerically simulated and analyzed in detail by using a rate-equation model. The -ndings show that a complementary relationship between the light intensities for OS and ES lasing exists in both the transition regime and the two-state lasing regime, leading to a much smaller overshooting power and a shorter settling time for the total light intensity. Therefore, the eye diagrams of GS or ES lasing are diffuse whereas those of total light intensity are constant as the bias-current increases in the transition regime.

A broadband external cavity tunable InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser by utilizing only the ground state emission

A broadband external cavity tunable laser is realized by using a broad-emitting spectral InAs/GaAs quantum dot （QD） gain device. A tuning range of 69 nm with a central wavelength of 1056 nm, is achieved at a bias of 1.25 kA/cm^2only by utilizing the light emission from the ground state of QDs. This large tunable range only covers the QD ground-state emission and is related to the inhomogeneous size distribution of QDs. No excited state contributes to the tuning bandwidth. The application of the QD gain device to the external cavity tunable laser shows its immense potential in broadening the tuning bandwidth. By the external cavity feedback, the threshold current densitycan be reduced remarkably compared with the free-running QD gain device.

Dynamics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers epitaxially grown on Ge or Si substrate

Growing semiconductor laser sources on silicon is a crucial but challenging technology for developing photonic integrated circuits(PICs).InAs/GaAs quantum dot(Qdot)lasers have successfully circumvented the mismatch problem betweenⅢ–Ⅴmaterials and Ge or Si,and have demonstrated efficient laser emission.In this paper,we review dynamical characteristics of Qdot lasers epitaxially grown on Ge or Si,in comparison with those of Qdot lasers on native GaAs substrate.We discuss properties of linewidth broadening factor,laser noise and its sensitivity to optical feedback,intensity modulation,as well as mode locking operation.The investigation of these dynamical characteristics is beneficial for guiding the design of PICs in optical communications and optical computations.

Quantum Dot Lasers Fabricated by Self-organized Growth

Quantum dot lasers have excellent characteristics such as temperature stability of threshold current and ultra-high material gain. Quantum dot structures fabricated by self-organized growth have high crystalline perfection, high quantum yield of radiative recombination and high size homogeneity. Main advantages and operating properties of quantum dot lasers fabricated by self-organized growth are briefly introduced.

A grating-coupled external cavity InAs/InP quantum dot laser with 85-nm tuning range

The optical performance of a grating-coupled external Continuous tuning from 1391 nm to 1468 nm is realized at cavity laser based on InAs/InP quantum dots is investigated. an injection current of 1900 mA. With the injection current increasing to 2300 mA, the tuning is blue shifted to some extent to the range from 1383 nm to 1461 nm. By combining the effect of the injection current with the grating tuning, the total tuning bandwidth of the external cavity quantum-dot laser can reach up to 85 nm. The dependence of the threshold current on the tuning wavelength is also presented.

Simulation and Analysis of Carrier Dynamics in the InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot Laser, Based upon Rate Equations

In this paper, simulation of InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) laser is performed based upon a set of eight rate equations for the carriers and photons in five energy states. Carrier dynamics in these lasers were under analysis and the rate equations are solved using 4th order Runge-Kutta method. We have shown that by increasing injected current to the active medium of laser, switching-on and stability time of the system would decrease and power peak and stationary power will be increased. Also, emission in any state will start when the lower state is saturated and remain steady. The results including P-I characteristic curve for the ground state (GS), first excited state (ES1), second excited state (ES2) and output power of the QD laser will be presented.

Quantum dot lasers for silicon photonics [Invited]

We review recent advances in the field of quantum dot lasers on silicon. A summary of device performance,reliability, and comparison with similar quantum well lasers grown on silicon will be presented. We consider the possibility of scalable, low size, weight, and power nanolasers grown on silicon enabled by quantum dot active regions for future short-reach silicon photonics interconnects.

Quantum dot lasers and integrated optoelectronics on silicon platform Invited Paper

Chip-scale integration of optoelectronic devices such as lasers, waveguides, and modulators on silicon is prevailing as a promising approach to realize future ultrahigh speed optical interconnects. We review recent progress of the direct epitaxy and fabrication of quantum dot （QD） lasers and integrated guided-wave devices on silicon. This approach involves the development of molecular beam epitaxial growth of self- organized QD lasers directly on silicon substrates and their monolithic integration with amorphous silicon waveguides and quantum well electroabsorption modulators. Additionally, we report a preliminary study of long-wavelength （〉 1.3 μm） QD lasers grown on silicon and integrated crystalline silicon waveguides using membrane transfer technology.

High-performance InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser with dot layers grown at 425℃

We investigate InAs/GaAs quantum dot （QD） lasers grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy with different growth temperatures for InAs dot layers. The same laser structures are grown, but the growth temperatures of InAs dot layers are set as 425 and 500℃, respectively. Ridge waveguide laser diodes are fabricated, and the characteristics of the QD lasers are systematically studied. The laser diodes with QDs grown at 425 ~C show better performance, such as threshold current density, output power, internal quantum efficiency, and characteristic temperature, than those with QDs grown at 500℃. This finding is ascribed to the higher QD density and more uniform size distribution of QDs achieved at 425℃.

Low phase noise and quasi-tunable millimeter-wave generator using a passively In As/InP mode-locked quantum dot laser

A low phase noise millimeter-wave(MMW) signal generator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated with a C-band passively Fabry-Pérot(F-P) quantum dot mode-locked laser. A novel method is proposed to generate low phase noise MMW signal, which is simply based on a commercial off-the-shelf dual-driven Li Nb O3 Mach-Zehnder modulator and a passively F-P quantum dot mode-locked laser. MMW signal with the frequency of 30 GHz, 45 GHz and 90 GHz respectively is obtained experimentally. Single-sideband phase noise of the 30 GHz and 45 GHz MMW signal is-112 d Bc/Hz and-106 d Bc/Hz at an offset of 1 k Hz, respectively. The linewidth of the 30 GHz and 45 GHz MMW signal is about from 225 Hz and 239 Hz. This is considered a very simple MMW generator with a quasi-tunable broadband and ultra-low phase noise.

Recent progress in epitaxial growth of Ⅲ–Ⅴ quantum-dot lasers on silicon substrate

In the past few decades,numerous high-performance silicon(Si)photonic devices have been demonstrated.Si,as a photonic platform,has received renewed interest in recent years.Efficient Si-basedⅢ–Ⅴquantum-dot(QDs)lasers have long been a goal for semiconductor scientists because of the incomparable optical properties of Ⅲ–Ⅴcompounds.Although the material dissimilarity betweenⅢ–Ⅴmaterial and Si hindered the development of monolithic integrations for over 30 years,considerable breakthroughs happened in the 2000s.In this paper,we review recent progress in the epitaxial growth of various Ⅲ–ⅤQD lasers on both offcut Si substrate and on-axis Si(001)substrate.In addition,the fundamental challenges in monolithic growth will be explained together with the superior characteristics of QDs.

Broadband tunable external cavity laser using a bent-waveguide quantum-dot superluminescent diode as gain device

A broadband tunable grating-coupled external cavity laser is realized by employing a self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum-dot （QD） superluminescent diode （SLD） as the gain device. The SLD device is processed with a bent-waveguide structure and facet antireflection （AR） coating. Tuning bandwidths of 106 nm and 117 nm are achieved under a-A and 3.5-A injection currents, respectively. The large tuning range originates essentially from the broad gain spectrum of self-assembled QDs. The bent waveguide structure combined with the facet AR coating plays a role in suppressing the inner-cavity lasing under a large injection current.

Perspective:optically-pumped Ⅲ–Ⅴ quantum dot microcavity lasers via CMOS compatible patterned Si (001) substrates

Direct epitaxial growthⅢ–Ⅴquantum dot(QD)structures on CMOS-compatible silicon substrates is considered as one of the most promising approaches to achieve low-cost and high-yield Si-based lasers for silicon photonic integration.However,epitaxial growth ofⅢ–Ⅴmaterials on Si encounters the following three major challenges:high density of threading dislocations,antiphase boundaries and thermal cracks,which significantly degrade the crystal quality and potential device performance.In this review,we will focus on some recent results related to InAs/GaAs quantum dot lasers on Si(001)substrates byⅢ–Ⅴ/Ⅳhybrid epitaxial growth via(111)-faceted Si hollow structures.Moreover,by using the step-graded epitaxial growth process the emission wavelength of InAs QDs can be extended from O-band to C/L-band.High-performance InAs/GaAs QD microdisk lasers with sub-milliwatts threshold on Si(001)substrates are fabricated and characterized.The above results pave a promising path towards the on-chip lasers for optical interconnect applications.

Self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots and quantum dot laser

Systematic study of molecular beam epitaxy-grown self-assembled ln(Ga)As/GaAs, In-AlAs/AlGaAs/GaAs, and InAs/InAIAs/lnP quantum dots (QDs) is demonstrated. By adjusting growth conditions, surprising alignment, preferential elongation, and pronounced sequential coalescence of dots under the specific condition are realized. Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) lasing at the wavelength of 960 nm with output power of 1 W is achieved from vertical coupled InAs/GaAs QDs ensemble. The RT threshold current density is 218 A/cm2. An RT CW output power of 0.53 W ensures at least 3 000 h lasing (only drops 0.83 db). This is one of the best results ever reported.

Broadband and high-speed swept external-cavity laser using a quantum-dot superluminescent diode as gain device

A wide wavelength tuning range swept external-cavity laser using an In As/Ga As quantum-dot superluminescent diode as a gain device is demonstrated. The tunable filter consists of a polygon scanner and a grating in Littrow telescope-less configuration. The swept laser generates greater than 54-m W peak output power and up to 33-k Hz sweep rate with a sweep range of 150 nm centered at 1155 nm. The effects of injection current and sweep rate on the sweep performance of the swept laser are studied.

A mode-locked external-cavity quantum-dot laser with a variable repetition rate

A mode-locked external-cavity laser emitting at 1.17-μm wavelength using an InAs/GaAs quantum-dot gain medium and a discrete semiconductor saturable absorber mirror is demonstrated. By changing the external-cavity length, repetition rates of 854, 912, and 969 MHz are achieved respectively. The narrowest -3-dB radio-frequency linewidth obtained is 38 kHz, indicating that the laser is under stable mode-locking operation.

Wavelength-tunable prism-coupled external cavity passively mode-locked quantum-dot laser

A wavelength-tunable mode-locked quantum dot laser using an InAs/GaAs quantum-dot gain medium and a discrete semiconductor saturable absorber mirror is demonstrated. A dispersion prism, which has lower optical loss and less spectral narrowing than a blazed grating, is used for wavelength selection and tuning. A wavelength tuning range of 45.5 nm （from 1137.3 nm to 1182.8 nm） under 140-mA injection current in the passive mode-locked regime is achieved. The maximum average power of 19 mW is obtained at the 1170.3-nm wavelength, corresponding to the single pulse energy of 36.5 pJ.

Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Labels for Detection of Heat Shock Protein in Tumor Tissue Using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope

A new Quantum Dots（Qdots） nanocrystal composed of semiconductor core and zinc sulfide shell, and its feasibility as labels in immunofluorescence analysis for the imaging of tumor biomarkers by laser scanning confocal microscope（LSCM） was investigated. Qdots taged by mercaptoacetic acid were conjugated with second antibody, then imaging differences of Heat Shock Proteins 70（HSP70） in renal carcinoma tissure sections with immunofluorescence analysis method using Qdots bioconjugates and conventional organic dye FITC were observed by LSCM to assess the brightness and opticalstability of Qdots. The experimental results showed Qdots bioconjugates achieved the better results in demonstrating HSP70 with more brighter color and more clear picture than FITC labels. Moreover, the label signals of Qdots did not fade clearly after continued exposure to a 488 nm laser for 1 h. The Qdots bioconjugates have good feasibility in immunofluorescence analysis for the bioimaging by LSCM.