Photonic Crystal Lasers

About

About Conventional optical links combine narrow spectral linewidth lasers with long broad band optical modulators. These invariably consume large amounts of energy – a fundamental physical constraint of this approach and require custom-made power-hungry electrical drivers. Our new Silicon Photonics (SiP+) technology-based system is dramatically simpler in its implementation than the conventional competing approaches. The SiP+ laser employs a revolutionary method that sees the laser wavelength automatically locked to an ultra-low capacitance PhC resonator that provides direct modulation. The laser is built around a large mode area optical waveguide platform enabling a modular structure that provides high performance Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) capabilities and very efficient fibre coupling. This leads to a dramatic reduction in the amount of energy consumed and is compatible with standard off-the-shelf electronic drivers, thus reducing costs. Our “game-changing” technology allows transceivers to operate within the 40-1000Gbps range in a simplified and cost-effective manner and with an efficient power budget.   Key Benefits Tunable lasers for Continuous Wave and direct Frequency Modulation Hybrid integration of Indium Phosphide, optical amplifier and silicon photonic crystal Low capacitance photonic crystal based tuning element Wavelength defined by photonic crystal Efficient power budget   Applications Transceivers operating at up to 1 Terabit/s   IP Status UK patent application No 1418637.3 covering the CW and FM photonics crystal laser technology.