Quantum dot-based terahertz photoconductive antennas

We present novel Terahertz (THz) emitting optically pumped Quantum Dot (QD) photoconductive (PC) materials and antenna structures on their basis both for pulsed and CW pumping regimes. Full text Quantum dot and microantenna design - Presented here are design considerations for the semiconductor materials in our novel QD-based photoconductive antenna (PCA) structures, metallic microantenna designs, and their implementation as part of a complete THz source or transceiver system. Layers of implanted QDs can be used for the photocarrier lifetime shortening mechanism[1,2]. In our research we use InAs:GaAs QD structures of varying dot layer number and distributed Bragg reflector(DBR)reflectivity range. According to the observed dependence of carrier lifetimes on QD layer periodicity [3], it is reasonable to assume that electron lifetimes can be potentially reduced down to 0.45ps in such structures. Both of these features; long excitation wavelength and short carriers lifetime predict possible feasibility of QD antennas for THz generation and detection. In general, relatively simple antenna configurations were used here, including: coplanar stripline (CPS); Hertzian-type dipoles; bow-ties for broadband and log-spiral(LS)or log-periodic(LP)‘toothed’ geometriesfor a CW operation regime. Experimental results - Several lasers are used for antenna pumping: Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser, as well as single-[4], double-[5] wavelength, and pulsed [6] QD lasers. For detection of the THz signal different schemes and devices were used, e.g. helium-cooled bolometer, Golay cell and a second PCA for coherent THz detection in a traditional time-domain measurement scheme.Fig.1shows the typical THz output power trend from a 5 um-gap LPQD PCA pumped using a tunable QD LD with optical pump spectrum shown in (b). Summary - QD-based THz systems have been demonstrated as a feasible and highly versatile solution. The implementation of QD LDs as pump sources could be a major step towards ultra-compact, electrically controllable transceiver system that would increase the scope of data analysis due to the high pulse repetition rates of such LDs [3], allowing real-time THz TDS and data acquisition. Future steps in development of such systems now lie in the further investigation of QD-based THz PCA structures and devices, particularly with regards to their compatibilitywith QD LDs as pump sources. [1]E. U. Rafailov et al., “Fast quantum-dot saturable absorber for passive mode-locking of solid-State lasers,”Photon.Tech.Lett., IEEE, vol. 16 pp. 2439-2441(2004) [2]E. Estacio, “Strong enhancement of terahertz emission from GaAs in InAs/GaAs quantum dot structures. Appl.Phys.Lett., vol. 94 pp. 232104 (2009) [3]C. Kadow et al., “Self-assembled ErAs islands in GaAs: Growth and subpicosecond carrier dynamics,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 75 pp. 3548-3550 (1999) [4]T. Kruczek, R. Leyman, D. Carnegie, N. Bazieva, G. Erbert, S. Schulz, C. Reardon, and E. U. Rafailov, “Continuous wave terahertz radiation from an InAs/GaAs quantum-dot photomixer device,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 101(2012) [5]R. Leyman, D. I. Nikitichev, N. Bazieva, and E. U. Rafailov, “Multimodal spectral control of a quantum-dot diode laser for THz difference frequency generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 99 (2011) [6]K.G. Wilcox, M. Butkus, I. Farrer, D.A. Ritchie, A. Tropper, E.U. Rafailov, “Subpicosecond quantum dot saturable absorber mode-locked semiconductor disk laser, ” Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol 94, 2511 © 2014 IEEE.

Towards the distributed core for ubiquitous superfast broadband optical access

In this paper, we describe recent architectural and technological advances of the end to end optical network architecture proposed by the DISCUS project (the DIStributed Core for unlimited bandwidth supply for all Users and Services). The two main targets of DISCUS are the principle of equivalence in the access and the reduction of optical-to-electronic conversions in the metro-core network. Technological advances and techno-economic evaluation of Long-Reach Passive Optical Networks (LR-PON), as well as the optimal metro-core node architecture and the required network control plane framework are reported. Network infrastructure sharing challenges are also discussed. © 2014 IEEE.

Cost-effective broadband GaAs IQ modulator array for long-reach OFDM-PONs

A novel modulator array integrating eight GaAs electro-optic IQ modulators is characterized and tested over long-reach direct-detected multi-band OFDM-PONs. The GaAs IQ modulators present > 22 GHz bandwidth with 3V Vpi, being suitable for a 100-km 40-Gb/s OOFDM-PON supporting up to 1024 users.

DISCUS : end-to-end network design for ubiquitous high speed broadband services

Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) has been long sought as the ultimate solution to satisfy the demand for broadband access in the foreseeable future, and offer distance-independent data rate within access network reach. However, currently deployed FTTP networks have in most cases only replaced the transmission medium, without improving the overall architecture, resulting in deployments that are only cost efficient in densely populated areas (effectively increasing the digital divide). In addition, the large potential increase in access capacity cannot be matched by a similar increase in core capacity at competitive cost, effectively moving the bottleneck from access to core. DISCUS is a European Integrated Project that, building on optical-centric solutions such as Long-Reach Passive Optical access and flat optical core, aims to deliver a cost-effective architecture for ubiquitous broadband services. One of the key features of the project is the end-to-end approach, which promises to deliver a complete network design and a conclusive analysis of its economic viability. © 2013 IEEE.

An end to end architecture for ubiquitous super-fast broadband

There is growing pressure to ensure that future broadband networks are both super fast and ubiquitously available to all users without the need for large government subsidies, this requires a radical change to network architectures. © OSA 2013.

Evaluation on a 60 GHz radio over fiber system employing photonic up conversion and optically beam formed linear array antenna for broadband indoor access

In this study, two linear coplanar array antennas based on Indium Phosphide (InP) substrate are designed, presented and compared in terms of bandwidth and gain. Slot introduction in combination with coplanar structure is investigated, providing enhanced antenna gain and bandwidth at the 60 GHz frequency band. In addition the proposed array antennas are evaluated in terms of integration with a high-speed photodiode and investigated in terms of matching, providing a bandwidth that reaches 2 GHz. Moreover a potential beam forming scenario combined with photonic up-conversion scheme has been proposed. © 2013 IEEE.

AlGaInP red-emitting light emitting diode under extremely high pulsed pumping

Efficiency of commercial 620 nm InAlGaP Golden Dragon-cased high-power LEDs has been studied under extremely high pump current density up to 4.5 kA/cm2 and pulse duration from microsecond down to sub-nanosecond range. No efficiency decrease and negligible red shift of the emission wavelength is observed in the whole range of drive currents at nanosecond-range pulses with duty cycles well below 1%. Analysis of the pulse-duration dependence of the LED efficiency and emission spectrum suggests the active region overheating to be the major mechanism of the LED efficiency reduction at higher pumping, dominating over the electron overflow and Auger recombination.

Self-mode-locked vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser

Ultrashort laser pulses from vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have been receiving much attention in the semiconductor laser community since the first demonstration of sub-ps-pulsed devices more than a decade ago. Originally relying on semiconductor saturable-absorber mirrors for pulse formation, mode-locked operation has not only become accessible by using a variety of saturable absorbers, but also by using a saturable-absorber-free technique referred to as self-mode-locking (SML). Here, we highlight achievements in the field of SML-VECSELs with quantum-well and quantum-dot gain chips, and study the influence of a few VECSEL parameters on the assumed nonlinear lensing behavior in the system. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

All-analogue real-time broadband filter bank multicarrier optical communications system

This paper studies the key aspects of an optical link which transmits a broadband microwave filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) signal. The study is presented in the context of creating an all-analogue real-time multigigabit orthogonal frequency division multiplexing electro-optical transceiver for short range and high-capacity data center networks. Passive microwave filters are used to perform the pulse shaping of the bit streams, allowing an orthogonal transmission without the necessity of digital signal processing (DSP). Accordingly, a cyclic prefix that would cause a reduction in the net data rate is not required. An experiment consisting of three orthogonally spaced 2.7 Gbaud quadrature phase shift keyed subchannels demonstrates that the spectral efficiency of traditional DSP-less subcarrier multiplexed links can be potentially doubled. A sensitivity of -29.5 dBm is achieved in a 1-km link.

Performance improvement of broadband distributed Raman amplifier using bidirectional pumping with first and dual order forward pumps

In this paper, a new bidirectional pumping scheme with dual order forward pumps is proposed. Performance is compared numerically with conventional bidirectional and backward only pumping schemes for a 70 nm bandwidth, 61.5 km distributed Raman amplifier. We demonstrate that it is possible to design a flat gain spectrum with improved noise figure and OSNR, as well as a low gain ripple (<1 dB).

Superior color rendering with a phosphor-converted blue-cyan monolithic light-emitting diode

The future generation of modern illumination should not only be cheap and highly efficient, but also demonstrate high quality of light, light which allows better color differentiation and fidelity. Here we are presenting a novel approach to create a white solid-state light source providing ultimate color rendition necessary for a number of applications. The proposed semi-hybrid device combines a monolithic blue-cyan light emitting diode (MBC LED) with a green-red phosphor mixture. It has shown a superior color rendering index (CRI), 98.6, at correlated color temperature of around 3400 K. The MBC LED epi-structure did not suffer from the efficiency reduction typical for monolithic multi-color emitters and was implemented in the two most popular chip designs: “epi-up” and “flip-chip”. Redistribution of the blue and cyan band amplitudes in the white-light emission spectrum, using the operating current, is found to be an effective tool for fine tuning the color characteristics. (Figure presented.).