Showing papers in "IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics in 2002"

An out-of-plane grating coupler for efficient butt-coupling between compact planar waveguides and single-mode fibers

Abstract: We have designed and fabricated an out-of-plane coupler for butt-coupling from fiber to compact planar waveguides. The coupler is based on a short second-order grating or photonic crystal, etched in a waveguide with a low-index oxide cladding. The coupler is optimized using mode expansion-based simulations. Simulations using a 2-D model show that up to 74% coupling efficiency between single-mode fiber and a 240-nm-thick GaAs-AlO/sub x/ waveguide is possible. We have measured 19% coupling efficiency on test structures.

Full-vectorial imaginary-distance beam propagation method based on a finite element scheme: application to photonic crystal fibers

Abstract: A full-vectorial imaginary-distance beam propagation method based on a finite element scheme is newly formulated and is effectively applied to investigating the problem of leakage due to a finite number of arrays of air holes in photonic-crystal holey fibers (HFs). In order to treat arbitrarily shaped air holes and to avoid spurious solutions, a curvilinear edge/nodal hybrid element is introduced. Furthermore, in order to evaluate propagation characteristics of not only bound modes but leaky modes in HFs, an anisotropic perfectly matched layer is also employed as a boundary condition at computational window edges. It is confirmed from numerical results that the propagation loss increases rapidly with increasing wavelength, especially for HFs with one ring of smaller air holes, and that the propagation loss is drastically reduced by adding one more ring of air holes to the cladding region.

Chemical sensors based on quantum cascade lasers

Abstract: There is an increasing need in many chemical sensing applications ranging from industrial process control to environmental science and medical diagnostics for fast, sensitive, and selective gas detection based on laser spectroscopy. The recent availability of novel pulsed and CW quantum cascade distributed feedback (QC-DFB) lasers as mid-infrared spectroscopic sources address this need. A number of spectroscopic techniques have been demonstrated worldwide by several groups. For example, the authors have employed QC-DFB lasers for the monitoring and quantification of several trace gases and isotopic species in ambient air at ppmv and ppbv levels by means of direct absorption, wavelength modulation, and cavity enhanced and cavity ringdown spectroscopy.

Quantum cascade lasers: ultrahigh-speed operation, optical wireless communication, narrow linewidth, and far-infrared emission

Abstract: Following an introduction to the history of the invention of the quantum cascade (QC) laser and of the band-structure engineering advances that have led to laser action over most of the mid-infrared (IR) and part of the far-IR spectrum, the paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments that will likely enable important advances in areas such as optical communications, ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy and applications to ultrahigh sensitivity gas-sensing systems We discuss the experimental observation of the remarkably different frequency response of QC lasers compared to diode lasers, ie, the absence of relaxation oscillations, their high-speed digital modulation, and results on mid-IR optical wireless communication links, which demonstrate the possibility of reliably transmitting complex multimedia data streams Ultrashort pulse generation by gain switching and active and passive modelocking is subsequently discussed Recent data on the linewidth of free-running QC lasers (/spl sim/150 kHz) and their frequency stabilization down to 10 kHz are presented Experiments on the relative frequency stability (/spl sim/5 Hz) of two QC lasers locked to optical cavities are discussed Finally, developments in metallic waveguides with surface plasmon modes, which have enabled extension of the operating wavelength to the far IR are reported

Optimization of the Q factor in photonic crystal microcavities

Abstract: We express the quality factor of a mode in terms of the Fourier transforms of its field components and prove that the reduction in radiation loss can be achieved by suppressing the mode's wavevector components within the light cone. Although this is intuitively clear, our analytical proof gives us insight into how to achieve the Q factor optimization, without the mode delocalization. We focus on the dipole defect mode in free-standing membranes and achieve Q > 10/sup 4/, while preserving the mode volume of the order of one half of the cubic wavelength of light in the material. The derived expressions and conclusions can be used in the optimization of the Q factor for any type of defect in planar photonic crystals.

Chaos synchronization and chaotic signal masking in semiconductor lasers with optical feedback

Abstract: Theoretical and experimental investigations of chaos synchronization and its application to chaotic data transmissions in semiconductor lasers with optical feedback are presented. Two schemes of chaos synchronization-complete and generalized synchronization-are discussed in the delay differential systems. The conditions for chaos synchronization in the systems and the robustness for the parameter mismatches are studied. The possibility of secure communications based on the chaos masking technique in semiconductor lasers with optical feedback is also discussed, and message transmission of a 1.5-GHz sinusoidal signal is demonstrated. The method of bandwidth enhancement of chaotic carriers is proposed for broad-band chaos communications.

Bound-to-continuum and two-phonon resonance, quantum-cascade lasers for high duty cycle, high-temperature operation

Abstract: Recent advances in quantum-cascade (QC) laser active-region design are reviewed. Based on a rate equation model of the active region, we show why new gain regions. based on a two-phonon resonance or a bound-to-continuum transition exhibit significantly better performance than the traditional design based on a three-quantum-well active region. Threshold current densities as low as 3 kA/cm/sup 2/ at T=300 K, operation with a peak power of 90 mW at 425 K, single-mode high-power operation up to temperatures above 330 K at /spl lambda//spl ap/16 /spl mu/m and continuous wave operation up to T=311 K are demonstrated. QC lasers able to operate at high duty cycles (50%) on a Peltier cooler were used in a demonstration of a 300-MHz free-space optical link between two buildings separated by 350 m.

Superprism phenomena in planar photonic crystals

Abstract: We utilize the anomalous dispersion of planar photonic crystals near the dielectric band edge to control the wavelength-dependent propagation of light. We typically observe an angular swing of up to 10/spl deg/ as the input wavelength is changed from 1290 nm to 1310 nm, which signifies an angular dispersion of 0.5 degree/nm. Such a strong angular dispersion is of the order required for wavelength-division multiplexing systems. This is the first demonstration of the "superprism" effect in a planar configuration with a small lattice.

Structural tuning of guiding modes of line-defect waveguides of silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal slabs

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate the structural tuning of the waveguiding modes of line defects in photonic crystal (PC) slabs. By tuning the defect widths, we realized efficient single-mode waveguides that operate within photonic band gap frequencies in silicon-on-insulator PC slabs. The observed waveguiding characteristics agree very well with three-dimensional finite difference time-domain calculations. We also directly measured the propagation loss of the line defect waveguides and obtained a value of 6 dB/mm.

Coupling and decoupling of electromagnetic waves in parallel 2D photonic crystal waveguides

Abstract: The behavior of two nearby straight photonic crystal waveguides is analyzed. It is shown that the two guides, considered as a single system, may realize a very efficient wavelength selective directional coupler, that may be used as a channel interleaver in a WDM communications system. In addition, we also show that, by properly designing the geometry of the dielectric region between the guide cores, waveguide decoupling can be obtained. Necessary conditions for this feature to be obtained are analytically derived, and an electromagnetic explanation of the decoupling process is given.

High-power passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

Abstract: We have developed optically pumped passively mode-locked vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. We achieved as much as 950 mW of mode-locked average power in chirped 15-ps pulses, or 530 mW in 3.9-ps pulses with moderate chirp. Both lasers operate at a repetition rate of 6 GHz and have a diffraction-limited output beam near 950 nm. In continuous-wave operation, we demonstrate an average output power as high as 2.2 W. Device designs with a low thermal impedance and a smooth gain spectrum are the key to such performance. We discuss design and fabrication of the gain structures and, particularly, their thermal properties

Modulation characteristics of quantum-dot lasers: the influence of p-type doping and the electronic density of states on obtaining high speed

Abstract: The influence of p-type modulation doping on self-organized quantum-dot lasers is studied using a quasiequilibrium model that includes the multi-discrete energy levels and the energy levels of the wetting layer. Calculations are presented showing that laser performance can be greatly enhanced through p-doping and that, in contrast to planar quantum-well lasers, the p-doping requirements are moderate. Optimized cavity lengths are found, and the threshold temperature and modulation characteristics are determined for these cavity lengths. The model shows that close energy spacing of the discrete hole levels can severely limit the modulation response, as suggested previously, and that this effect is countered through creation of an excess hole concentration using p-type doping. Good agreement is obtained with the modulation response reported in recent experiments for undoped quantum-dot active regions. The calculations suggest that bandwidths greater than 30 GHz can be obtained with sufficient p-doping. A reduction in the inhomogeneous broadening might increase the laser speed to over 60 GHz.

Photonic crystal light deflection devices using the superprism effect

Abstract: The superprism effect allows wide-angle deflection of the light beam in a photonic crystal (PC) by a slight change of the wavelength or the incident angle. In this paper, we discuss such light deflection outside the PC, which is expected when the output end of the PC is tilted against the input end. The analysis of the dispersion surfaces indicates a deflection angle of /spl plusmn/50/spl deg/ in a two-dimensional PC composed of triangular lattice airholes by changing the incident angle by /spl plusmn/2/spl deg/ or the wavelength by /spl plusmn/2%. Light deflections inside and outside the PC are numerically demonstrated by the finite difference time-domain method. It displays not only the main output beam but also many diffracted waves, which satisfy the wavevector conservation condition. These waves are sufficiently suppressed and an almost collimated output beam is realized by a flat interface.

Synchronized chaotic optical communications at high bit rates

Abstract: Basic issues regarding synchronized chaotic optical communications at high bit rates using semiconductor lasers are considered. Recent experimental results on broadband, high-frequency, phase-locked chaos synchronization, and message encoding-decoding at 2.5 Gb/s are presented. System performance at a bit rate of 10 Gb/s is numerically studied for the application of three encryption schemes, namely chaos shift keying, chaos masking, and additive chaos modulation, to three chaotic semiconductor laser systems, namely the optical injection system, the optical feedback system, and the optoelectronic feedback system. By causing synchronization error in the forms of synchronization deviation and desynchronization bursts, the channel noise and the laser noise both have significant effects on the system performance at high bit rates. Among the three laser systems, the optoelectronic feedback system has the best performance while the optical feedback system has the worst. Among the three encryption schemes, only the performance of additive chaos modulation with low-noise lasers is acceptable at high bit rates.

Influence of Si-doping on the characteristics of InGaN-GaN multiple quantum-well blue light emitting diodes

Abstract: A detailed study on the effects of Si-doping in the GaN barrier layers of InGaN-GaN multiquantum well (MQW) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been performed. Compared with unintentionally doped samples, X-ray diffraction results indicate that Si-doping in barrier layers can improve the crystal and interfacial qualities of the InGaN-GaN MQW LEDs. It was also found that the forward voltage is 3.5 and 4.52 V, the 20-mA luminous intensity is 36.1 and 25.1 mcd for LEDs with a Si-doped barrier and an unintentionally doped barrier, respectively. These results suggests that one can significantly improve the performance of InGaN-GaN MQW LEDs by introducing Si doping in the GaN barrier layers.

Characteristics of modified single-defect two-dimensional photonic crystal lasers

Abstract: The resonant modes found in a modified single-defect two-dimensional photonic crystal slab structure are theoretically and experimentally studied. There exist several modes in the band gap: doubly degenerate (dipole and quadrupole modes) and nondegenerate (hexapole and monopole modes). Among them, the monopole mode specifically attracts our interest because of its nondegeneracy, good coupling with the gain medium, and existence of the intensity minimum at the center of the cavity, which would open up the chance for the electrically driven single-defect laser. The nondegenerate hexapole mode, a special type of whispering gallery mode, has a very high quality factor. We have fabricated two types of modified single-defect lasers, i.e., air-based free-standing and SiO/sub 2/-based epoxy-bonded structures. Rich lasing actions in both structures are experimentally observed under optically pulsed pumping conditions at room temperature. In the free-standing slab structure, photons are strongly confined in vertical direction, and the lasing operations of all resonant modes with low thresholds are obtained. Especially, the nondegenerate monopole-mode laser is confirmed to have a large spontaneous emission factor of >0.06, estimated by analyzing rate equations. In the SiO/sub 2/-based slab structure, thermal properties are improved at the expense of vertical losses.

High-power single-mode antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide-type vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Abstract: Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) techniques are employed in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) to achieve high-power single-mode emission. Using the effective-index method and fiber mode approximation, the cold-cavity lateral modal behavior for the circular shaped ARROW VCSEL demonstrates significant reduction of radiation loss from that of a single antiguide, while maintaining strong discrimination against high-order modes. The circular-waveguide is created by selective chemical etching and two-step metal-organic chemical vapor deposition growth, with proton implantation used to confine the current injection to the low-index core region. A single-mode CW power of 7.1 mW has been achieved from an 8 /spl mu/m diameter ARROW device (index step /spl Delta/n = 0.05, emission at /spl lambda//sub 0/ = 980 nm) with a far-field FWHM of 10/spl deg/. Larger aperture (12 /spl mu/m) devices exhibit multimode operation at lower drive currents with a maximum single-mode continuous-wave output power of 4.3 mW.

Light propagation characteristics of straight single-line-defect waveguides in photonic crystal slabs fabricated into a silicon-on-insulator substrate

Abstract: Straight single-line defect optical waveguides in photonic crystal slabs are designed by the finite difference time-domain method and fabricated into a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. By employing an airbridge structure, clear light propagation for both polarizations is observed without any leakage along the waveguide. This experimental result is well explained by photonic bands of pure guided modes. Minimum propagation loss is estimated to be 11 dB/mm. This value is lower than that reported so far for three-line-defect waveguides with an SOI slab structure and almost comparable to that for an index confinement waveguide with a rectangular Si core. This propagation loss is dominated by the scattering loss by some irregularities. However, photonic crystal waveguides have the possibility of an essential lower scattering loss than in the index confinement waveguide because of the inhibition of radiation modes by the photonic bandgap.

Compact Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers with pulse repetition rates up to 160 GHz

Abstract: We present a comprehensive study on multigigahertz repetition rate Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers, passively mode-locked with semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors. A brief review of Q-switching instabilities with special emphasis on high repetition rate is given. We then present basic design guidelines, and experimentally show that one can push the pulse repetition rate of a Nd: YVO/sub 4/ laser up to 157 GHz, reaching the fundamental limit to the repetition rate which is given by the pulse duration and thus by the amplification bandwidth. We also demonstrate an air-cooled diode-pumped 10-GHz Nd: YVO/sub 4/ laser with 2.1-W average output power and 13% electrical-to-optical efficiency, showing the potential of solid-state lasers generating multiwatt, multigigahertz pulse trains with high efficiency.

What limits the maximum output power of long-wavelength AlGaInAs/InP laser diodes?

Abstract: We analyze the high-temperature continuous-wave performance of 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs/InP laser diodes grown by digital alloy molecular-beam epitaxy. Commercial laser software is utilized that self-consistently combines quantum-well bandstructure and gain calculations with two-dimensional simulations of carrier transport, wave guiding, and heat flow. Excellent agreement between simulation and measurements is obtained by careful adjustment of material parameters in the model. Joule heating is shown to be the main heat source; quantum-well recombination heat is almost compensated for by Thomson cooling. Auger recombination is the main carrier loss mechanism at lower injection current. Vertical electron escape into the p-doped InP cladding dominates at higher current and causes the thermal power roll-off. Self-heating and optical gain reduction are the triggering mechanisms behind the leakage escalation. Laser design variation is shown to allow for a significant increase in the maximum output power at high temperatures.

Toward the development of miniaturized imaging systems for detection of pre-cancer

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the progress toward the development of miniaturized imaging systems with applications in medical imaging, and specifically, detection of pre-cancer. The focus of the article is a miniature, optical-sectioning, fluorescence microscope. The miniature microscope is constructed from lithographically printed optics and assembled using a bulk micro-machined silicon microoptical table. Optical elements have been printed in a negative tone hybrid glass to a maximum depth of 59 /spl mu/m and an rms surface roughness between 10-45 nm, fulfilling the requirements of the miniature microscope. Test optical elements have been assembled using silicon-spring equipped mounting slots. The design of silicon springs is presented in this paper. Optical elements can be assembled within the tolerances of an NA=0.4 miniature microscope objective, confirming the concept of simple, zero-alignment assembly.

Theory of spectral beam combining of fiber lasers

Abstract: We model the spectral beam combining of a fiber laser array in the external resonator configuration, as proposed by V. Daneu et al. A diffraction integral-based approach is used that leads to design principles for most significant measures of performance, such as efficiency, bandwidth, and beam quality. Sensitivity to alignment and positioning errors is also characterized. Off-axis transform lens aberrations are shown to limit array size, and two design criteria are applied to compare the performance of simple spherical, compound, and aspheric lenses. The results indicate that a simple aspheric lens is superior in meeting the proposed criteria to a well-designed compound (quadruplet) lens with spherical surfaces. Application to the efficient coupling of a laser array to a multimode fiber core is discussed as a final example.

Optical communication with synchronized hyperchaos generated electrooptically

Abstract: We propose a method based on a scalar second-order difference-differential equation to obtain intensity chaos from a laser diode with a nonlinear delayed feedback. The method can be used for encrypting, transmitting, and decrypting a signal in a chaos-based communication system. The core of the chaotic transmitter and receiver is formed by an electrooptic modulator that is used to generate a strong reproducible nonlinearity and chaotic waveforms of extremely high Lyapunov dimensionality. The system opens the way to ultrafast chaotic communications.

Introduction to the feature section on optical chaos and applications to cryptography

Abstract: In this feature section, we have six contributions from pioneering groups working on optical chaos synchronization and encryption. The two more widely used techniques to make a semiconductor laser operate in a chaotic regime are optical and electrooptical feedback. Both techniques are well represented in this feature issue. The first four papers deal with optical feedback. The two other papers concentrate on electro-optical feedback.

Single-mode, tunable distributed-feedback and multiple-wavelength quantum cascade lasers

Abstract: Single-mode and tunable quantum cascade distributed feedback (QC-DFB) lasers in the wavelength range from 4.5 to 16.5 /spl mu/m are reviewed. In the case of QC lasers with dielectric waveguides, DFB; lasers are fabricated either with a top-grating approach, which is simpler to manufacture, or a buried grating with epitaxial regrowth, which generally has a higher single-mode yield as a result of a larger coupling factor. Long-wavelength QC-DFB lasers based on surface plasmon waveguides use bi-metal gratings for Bragg reflection. Single-mode emission with a side-mode suppression ratio of 30 dB and a tunability (depending on wavelength) of 0.3-1.0 nm/K heat sink temperature or of 2040 nm/A CW current are customarily achieved. These features together with the potential for high optical power, room-temperature operation, and narrow intrinsic linewidth make QC-DFB lasers prime choices as narrow-band light sources in mid-infrared trace gas sensors. As a result of their unipolar nature and the possibility to serially stack, or "cascade", many active regions, QC lasers also have an intrinsic potential for multi pie-wavelength operation in a wide variety of device concepts. Multiple different optical transitions in single active regions stacked in a homogeneous cascade as well as multiple single-wavelength active regions cascaded in various schemes of heterogeneous cascades have. been demonstrated. Based upon multiple-wavelength QC lasers, multiple single-mode QC-DFB lasers have been fabricated using sectioned laser cavities with multiple gratings. Adjusting the length of each Bragg-grating section as well the mode-overlap factor by tailoring the heterogeneity of the cascade has lead to a doubly single-mode QC-DFB laser with simultaneous single-mode emission around 5.0 and 7.5 /spl mu/m and a tunability at each wavelength as expected from equivalent single-wavelength single-mode lasers. Finally, the concept of multiple-wavelength emission was extended to ultrabroad-band emission, with a QC laser that exhibited gain from 5 to 8 /spl mu/m and simultaneous laser action from 6 to 8 /spl mu/m.

Semiconductor three-dimensional and two-dimensional photonic crystals and devices

Abstract: Semiconductor three-dimensional (3-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystals and their effects on the control of photons are investigated for possible applications to optical chip and functional devices. First we review our approaches creating full 3-D photonic bandgap crystals at near-infrared wavelengths, and also functional devices based on 2-D photonic crystals where the focus is on surface-emitting-type channel-drop filtering devices utilizing single defects in 2-D photonic crystal slabs. Then, we describe the recent progress on 3- and 2-D crystals. On 3-D crystals, the effect of the introduction of a light emitter into the 3-D photonic crystal is investigated, and the design of a single defect cavity is performed. On the 2-D photonic crystals, the photonic states are investigated from the perspective of their polarization properties.

Open-versus closed-loop performance of synchronized chaotic external-cavity semiconductor lasers

Abstract: We numerically study the synchronization or entrainment of two unidirectional coupled single-mode semiconductor lasers in a master-slave configuration. The emitter laser is an external-cavity laser subject to optical feedback that operates in a chaotic regime. The receiver can either operate at a chaotic regime similar to the emitter (closed-loop configuration) or without optical feedback and consequently under continuous-wave conditions when it is uncoupled (open-loop configuration). We compute the degree of synchronization of the two lasers as a function of the emitter-receiver coupling constant, the feedback rate of the receiver, and the detuning. We find that the closed-loop scheme has, in general, a larger region of synchronization when compared with the open loop. We also study the possibility of message encoding and decoding in both open and closed loops and their robustness against parameter mismatch. Finally, we compute the time it takes the system to recover the synchronization or entrainment state when the coupling between the two subsystems is lost. We find that this time is much larger in the closed loop than in the open one.

Experiment and analysis of two-photon absorption spectroscopy using a white-light continuum probe

Abstract: We present an experimental technique along with the method of data analysis to give nondegenerate two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra. We use a femtosecond pump pulse and a white-light continuum (WLC) probe to rapidly generate the 2PA spectra of a variety of materials. In order to analyze data taken with this method, the spectral and temporal characteristics of the WLC must be known, along with the linear dispersion of the sample. This allows determination of the temporal walk-off of the pump and probe pulses as a function of frequency caused by group-velocity mismatch. Data correction can then be performed to obtain the nonlinear losses. We derive an analytical formula for the normalized nonlinear transmittance that is valid under quite general experimental parameters. We verify this on ZnS and use it for the determination of 2PA spectra of some organic compounds in solution. We also compare some of the data on organics with two-photon fluorescence data and find good agreement.

Influence of instantaneous mode competition on the dynamics of semiconductor lasers

Abstract: Comprehensive theoretical investigations of the influence of instantaneous mode-competition phenomena on the dynamics of semiconductor lasers are introduced. The analyzes are based on numerical simulations of the multimode rate equations superposed by Langevin noise sources that account for the intrinsic fluctuations associated with the spontaneous emission. Numerical generation of the Langevin noise sources is performed in such a way as to keep the correlation of the modal photon number with the injected electron number. The gain saturation effects, which cause competition phenomena among lasing modes, are introduced based on a self-consistent model. The effect of the noise sources on the mode-competition phenomena is illustrated. The mode-competition phenomena induce instantaneous coupling among fluctuations in the intensity of modes, which induce instabilities in the mode dynamics and affect the state of operation. The dynamics of modes and the characteristics of the output spectrum are investigated over wide ranges of the injection current and the linewidth enhancement factor in both AlGaAs-GaAs and InGaAsP-InP laser systems. Operation is classified into stable single mode, stable multimode, hopping multimode, and jittering single mode. Based on the present results, the experimental observations of multimode oscillation in InGaAsP-InP lasers are explained as results of the large value of the linewidth enhancement factor.