Phase II year
2022
(last award dollars: 1686148386)
Phase II Amount
$1,500,000
A novel, single-cavity multi-wavelength source is proposed. The technology uses a highly optimized quantum dot gain medium that offers high efficiency, excellent stability with respect to reflections, high temperature operation, and flexibility to engineer the emission wavelength/gain bandwidth. The material can be engineered to provide flat-top gain spectra across the entire O-band for optical communications and shorter wavelengths as desired. This material is then coupled with an innovative laser cavity architecture which can be engineered to emit arbitrarily chosen numbers of desired wavelengths and frequency spacings. The single-component nature of the device will enable improved reliability and system efficiency relative to incumbent technologies like arrays of single-wavelength lasers. These lasers are fabricated with industry-standard techniques available at scale, and layouts can be designed to provide arrays of these multiwavelength emitters. A low cost wafer scale package will be co-designed with the multi-wavelength laser to enable wafer-scale test and flexible outcoupling options to individual or arrayed fibers or to grating couplers on silicon photonic chips.
