Electrically pumped semiconductor evanescent laser

Abstract

An apparatus and method electrically pumping a hybrid evanescent laser. For one example, an apparatus includes an optical waveguide disposed in silicon. An active semiconductor material is disposed over the optical waveguide defining an evanescent coupling interface between the optical waveguide and the active semiconductor material such that an optical mode to be guided by the optical waveguide overlaps both the optical waveguide and the active semiconductor material. A current injection path is defined through the active semiconductor material and at least partially overlapping the optical mode such that light is generated in response to electrical pumping of the active semiconductor material in response to current injection along the current injection path at least partially overlapping the optical mode.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0001]This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. W911NF-05-1-0175, awarded by the Department of Defense. The Government has certain rights in this invention.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to optics and, more specifically, the present invention relates to optical interconnects and communications.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]The need for fast and efficient optical-based technologies is increasing as Internet data traffic growth rate is overtaking voice traffic pushing the need for fiber optical communications. Transmission of multiple optical channels over the same fiber in the dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) systems and Gigabit (GB) Ethernet systems provide a simple way to use the unprecedented capacity (signal bandwidth) offered by fiber optics. Commonly used optical components in the system include wa...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The costs of producing lasers and associated components are very high, however, and using separate components for each wavelength of light to be transmitted can be expensive and inefficient.

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