High-power operation of aluminum-free (κ=0.98 μm) pumplaser for erbium-doped fiber amplifier

The authors discuss the fabrication and characteristics of high-power (P_CW=430 mW) InGaAs/InGaAsP/InGaP ridge waveguide lasers emitting at λ=0.98 μm, which is the optimum wavelength for pumping erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. In the past, high-power operation of Al-free pump lasers has been limited to 150 mW because of catastrophic optical damage of the mirror facet. This problem has been largely removed by increasing the spot size of the laser with the aid of an improved waveguide design. As a result, Al-free lasers can now achieve a maximum power comparable to the conventional GaAlAs-based pump lasers for λ=0.98 μm     

Ti:Er:LiNbO3 waveguide laser of optimized efficiency

The development of a Fabry-Perot-type Ti,Er:LiNbO₃ waveguide laser of optimized CW output power up to 63 mW (λ_s =1561 nm) at a pump power level of 210 mW (λ_p=1480 nm) and a slope efficiency of up to 37% is reported. The theoretical model for the waveguide laser is presented and applied to determine the optimum resonator configuration using waveguide parameters obtained from a detailed characterization of the laser sample. With pulsed pumping, waveguide laser pulses of up to 6.2 W peak power were observed. Apart from residual relaxation oscillations, the laser emission proved to be shot-noise limited     

Fluorescence and laser operation in single-mode Ti-diffusedNd:MgO:LiNbO3 waveguide structures

The spectral properties of the guided-wave Nd fluorescence and results of laser oscillation in Ti-indiffused single-mode Nd:MgO:LiNbO ₃ waveguides and waveguide cavities, respectively, are reported. The splitting and polarization behavior of the fluorescence lines around 0.9, 1.08, and 1.37 μm were studied. Using a single-mode diode laser as a pump source (λ_p=814.6 nm), an oscillation threshold in an 8-mm-long structure of 2.1-mW absorbed pump power has been obtained. An output power up to 310 μW (limited by the available pump power), a slope efficiency of 16% at power levels >150 μW, and an emission linewidth of 0.21 nm (at λ_s=1085 nm) have been measured     

Design optimization for efficient erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

The gain and pumping efficiency of aluminosilicate erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are analyzed as a function of guiding parameters and Er-doping profile for two pump wavelengths of λ _p=980 nm and λ_p=1.47 μm. Three designs of fiber-amplifier waveguides are considered: one with the same mode size as standard 1.5-μm communication fibers (type 1); one with the same mode size as standard 1.5-μm dispersion-shifted fibers (type 2); and one with mode size smaller than those of communication fibers (type 3). For the 1.47-μm pump, fundamental LP₀₁ mode excitation is assumed, while for the λ_p=980-nm pump, concurrent excitation of LP₁₁ modes is considered. It is shown that excitation of higher-order pump modes at 980 nm does not significantly affect the amplifier gain performance. The effect of concentrating the Er³⁺ doping near the center of the fiber core is shown to increase the amplifier gain coefficients by a factor of 1.5 to 2     

Diode-pumped and packaged acoustooptically tunableTi:Er:LiNbO3 waveguide laser of wide tuning range

Design, fabrication, and properties of an acoustooptically tunable Ti:Er:LiNbO₃ waveguide laser of up to 31-nm tuning range in the wavelength band 1530 nm<λ<1575 nm are discussed. The laser cavity is formed by an Au mirror and a dielectric mirror as output coupler, both vacuum-deposited on the polished waveguide endfaces. As tunable intracavity wavelength filter with zero frequency shift, two monolithically integrated single-stage acoustooptical TE-TM-mode converters are used together with two polarization splitters operated as TE- and TM-pass polarizers, respectively. The minimum threshold of about 54 mW (coupled) pump power is obtained at λ≈1561-nm emission wavelength for diode laser pumping at λ_p≈1480 nm. With about 110-mW coupled pump power, up to 320-μW output power is achieved; the emission linewidth is 0.3 nm     

Theoretical modeling of optical amplification in Er-doped Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides

An accurate theoretical analysis is presented describing optical amplification in Er-diffused Ti:LiNbO₃ channel waveguides. It follows as far as possible the theory already developed for Er-doped fibers. As optical pumping around λ_p≈1.48 μm is considered, a quasi-two-level model for the Er³⁺ ions is used with wavelength-dependent cross sections. The optical gain in the 1.53 μm<λ<1.64-μm wavelength range is evaluated. The characteristic parameters, as Er concentration profile, cross sections, pump, and signal mode distributions and waveguide (scattering) losses are taken from experiments. Examples of numerically calculated pump-, small-signal-gain-, and ASE-evolutions are presented. The model has been tested by comparing computed and experimentally observed gain characteristics for Xˆ- and Yˆ-cut LiNbO₃; an almost quantitative agreement has been obtained     

Theoretical modeling of relaxation oscillations in Er-dopedwaveguide lasers

An analysis of relaxation oscillations (λ_s~1.5 μm) in locally Er-doped optically pumped (λ_p~1.48 μm) waveguide lasers is reported. The theoretical model is based on time dependent rate equations for a quasi-two-level-system and on the equation of continuity for a gain medium. For the first time a numerically reliable simulation of the elementary properties of the laser oscillations was possible: the build-up time and decay of the relaxation oscillations, the time-dependent repetition period, the steady state signal output power and the evolution of the pump power versus time. Mathematically the problem can be characterized as a large boundary value problem, which can approximately be replaced by a stiff initial value problem of ordinary differential equations. In this report, pump- and signal evolution versus time are presented for planar Er-diffused Ti:LiNbO₃ waveguide lasers. The numerically obtained results show a good quantitatively agreement with experimental investigations     

Efficient upconversion by a frequency factor between two and threeusing an optical parametric oscillator

We present the theory of a scheme for frequency up-conversion from pump frequency ω_p to a desired frequency ω_d between 2ω_p and 3ω_p. The proposed device consists of three nonlinear crystals in series inside a cavity resonating light at a signal frequency ωs. Sum-frequency generation (SFG) in the first crystal produces the desired radiation, ω_s+ω_p=ω_d. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) in the second crystal doubles the frequency of the residual pump, 2ω_p=ω_h, while the signal passes through unaffected. Optical parametric oscillation (OPO) in the third crystal generates the signal and idler frequencies, ω_h=ω_s+ω. A plane-wave analysis predicts a quantum efficiency close to 30% over an extended range of pump intensity. Iteration of the plane-wave solutions over many passes yields dynamics very similar to that recently calculated for the SFG-OPO device. As in that device, a small detuning of the SFG interaction enlarges the dynamic range yielding stable operation. Highest efficiency occurs when ω_i is at the low-frequency end of the OPO crystal transmission window. As an example, we consider a device using a noncritically phase-matched KTP SFG crystal, a quartz crystal polarization rotator, an angle-tuned KTP SHG crystal, and a noncritically phase-matched LiNbO₃ OPO crystal. This device is designed to convert λ_p=1.064 μm to λ_d=0.455 μm. We calculate a power conversion efficiency as great as 73%     

Theoretical study of annealed proton-exchanged Nd:LiNbO3channel waveguide lasers with variational method

The controllable fabrication parameters, including anneal time, initial exchange time, channel width, dependences of TM₀₀ mode size, corresponding effective refractive index, effective pump area, and coupling efficiency between pump and laser modes in z-cut annealed proton-exchanged (APE) Nd:LiNbO₃ channel waveguide lasers were studied by using variational method. The effect of channel width on the surface index increment and the waveguide depth was taken into account. The features of mode size and effective refractive index were summarized, discussed, and compared with previously published experimental results. The effective pump area, which is directly proportional to threshold pump power, increases strongly, slightly, and very slightly with the increase of anneal time, channel width, and initial exchange time, respectively. However, the coupling efficiency, which is directly proportional to slope efficiency, remains constant (around 0.82) no matter what changes made to these parameters. The variation of the coupling loss between an APE channel waveguide and a fiber with these parameters for both laser (1085 nm) and pump (815 nm) wavelengths was also calculated. The calculated results indicate that the coupling loss decreases rapidly, slightly and very slightly with the increase of anneal time, channel width and initial exchange time, respectively     

Efficient coupling between annealed K+-Na+ion-exchanged channel waveguides and 10/125 single-mode fibers atλ=1.321 μm

The process of thermal annealing of K⁺-Na⁺ ion-exchanged channel waveguides has been studied with the aim of optimizing their coupling efficiency with commercial single-mode fibers at λ=1.321 μm. Waveguides obtained in soda-lime glass slides, with mask apertures ranging between 13.4 and 2.6 μm, were characterized before the annealing by combining nearfield measurements and an etching procedure. The experimental results were successfully compared with a theoretical model based on the variational principle. The refractive index distribution of K⁺-Na⁺ ion-exchanged channel waveguides supporting one or a low number of modes was given: compared to the corresponding slab case, the refractive index step Δn_o remained constant, while the waveguide depth was lower. The thermal annealing process of the channels was then performed and modeled by means of the standard diffusion theory. As a result, the channel fabrication parameters for optimum guide-fiber coupling could be predicted: 0.23-dB mode mismatch losses were measured between the optimized channel and a commercial 10/125 single-mode fiber, at λ=1.321 μm     

Investigation of broad-band quantum-well infrared photodetectorsfor 8-14-μm detection

Typical quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) exhibit a rather narrow spectral bandwidth of 1-2 μm. For certain applications, such as spectroscopy, sensing a broader range of infrared radiation is highly desirable. In this paper, we report the design of four broad-band QWIPs (BB-QWIPs) sensitive over the 8-14-μm spectral range. Two n-type BB-QWIPs, consisting of three and four quantum wells of different thickness and/or composition in a unit cell which is then repeated 20 times to create the BB-QWIP structure, are demonstrated. The three-well n-type In_xGa_1-xAs-Al_yGa_1-yAs BB-QWIP was designed to have a response peak at 10 μm, with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) bandwidth that varies with the applied bias. A maximum bandwidth of Δλ/λ_p=21% was obtained for this device at V_b=-2 V. The four-well n-type In_xGa_1-xAs-GaAs BB-QWIP not only exhibits a large responsivity of 2.31 A/W at 10.3 μm and V_b=+4.5 V, but also achieves a bandwidth of Δλ/λ_p=29% that is broader than the three-well device. In addition, two p-type In _xGa_1-xAs-GaAs BB-QWIPs with variable well thickness and composition, sensitive in the 7-14-μm spectral range, are also demonstrated. The variable composition p-type BB-QWIP has a large FWHM bandwidth of Δλ/λ_p=48% at T=40 K and V_b=-1.5 V. The variable thickness p-type BB-QWIP was found to have an even broader FWHM bandwidth of Δλ/λ _p=63% at T=40 K and V_b=1.1 V, with a corresponding peak responsivity of 25 mA/W at 10.2 μm. The results show that a broader and flatter spectral bandwidth was obtained in both p-type BB-QWIP's than in the n-type BS-QWIP's under similar operating conditions     

Si-based receivers for optical data links

We present results for Ge_xSi_1-x waveguide pin detectors grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD). Detectors with multiple Ge_0.29Si_0.71 absorption layers show an internal quantum efficiency of 33% at λ=1.3 μm with a dark current of 27 pA/μm². The external quantum efficiency is limited to 7% by the fiber-to-waveguide coupling efficiency. The output eye diagram for a hybrid λ=1.3 μm silicon receiver at 500 Mb/s is demonstrated. Prospects of a silicon-based optoelectronic receiver array technology are discussed     

Germanium-diffused waveguides in silicon for λ=1.3 μm andλ=1.55 μm with losses below 0.5 dB/cm

The authors present a simple technique for the fabrication of integrated optical channel waveguides that are prepared by indiffusion of an E-beam evaporated amorphous alloy of germanium and silicon into commercially available silicon with low dopant concentration, using only simple technological processes such as standard lithography, PVD, and diffusion. The waveguides are polarization independent and have waveguide losses as low as 0.3 dB/cm at wavelengths of λ=1.3 μm and λ=1.55 μm. The spot sizes are well suited for low-loss single-mode fiber device coupling, being on the order of a few microns in both horizontal and vertical directions     

Optimal pump wavelength in the4I15/2-4I13/2 absorption band for efficient Er3+-doped fiberamplifiers

The authors report the measured gain of a highly efficient erbium-doped fiber amplifier pumped at wavelengths between 1.46 and 1.51 μm. The optimal pump wavelength, λ_opt, was determined to be 1.475 μm. At this wavelength, the maximum gain coefficients for signals at 1.531 and 1.544 μm were 2.3 and 2.6 dB/mW, respectively. At λ_opt, high gains ranging from 32 dB at pump power P_p=20 mW up to 40 dB at P _p=80 mW were obtained. These modest pump powers are within the capabilities of currently available 1.48-μm diode lasers. The width about λ_opt for 3-dB gain variation exceeded 27 nm for P_p=10 mW and 40 nm for P_p >20 mW. With this weak dependence on pump wavelength, single-longitudinal-mode lasers do not have a significant advantage over practical Fabry-Perot multimode pump lasers     

InGaP/InGaAsP/GaAs 0.808 μm separate confinement laser diodesgrown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Aluminum-free InGaP/InGaAsP/GaAs separate confinement heterostructures have been grown and used for broad-area stripe diode laser fabrication. The lasers demonstrated a uniform near-field pattern and emission spectrum at λ=0.808 μm with a full width at half maximum ⩽2 mm, meeting the necessary requirements for Nd:YAG pumping systems. A threshold current density of 470 A/cm² and differential efficiency of 0.7 W/A with series resistance of 0.12 Ω for 1.37 mm-long diodes have been measured     

Control of mode profiles in proton-diffused LiNbO3waveguides using self-aligned SiO2 cladding

Channel waveguides fabricated in LiNbO₂ by proton diffusion with a self-aligned SiO₂-cladding structure are discussed. Proton diffusion in width and depth directions is amenable to process parameters, so that it provides a simple method for control of mode profiles. Using this method, symmetric depth mode profiles and an aspect ratio of 1.15 at λ=0.6328 μm have been achieved for efficient fiber-to-waveguide coupling     

Fabrication of wavelength-insensitive 8×8 star coupler

The fabrication and performance of a wavelength-insensitive 8×8 star coupler is described. The integrated-optic star coupler consists of two fan-shaped channel waveguide arrays facing each other and a slab waveguide region located in between. The wavelength-insensitive light splitting was realized by properly tailoring the mode coupling in the input array region. The coupler exhibits low-average excess losses of α=1.4 dB (standard deviation σ=0.40 dB) at λ=1.3 μm and α=1.7 dB (σ=0.44 dB) at λ= 1.55 μm, respectively     

Method for calculating coupling length of Ti:LiNbO3waveguide directional couplers

Reports a theory for calculating the coupling length L _c of Ti:LiNbO₃ single-mode waveguide directional couplers from process parameters and operating wavelength. Estimates are accurate to within a factor of 2 compared with published experimental results for z-cut y-propagating LiNbO₃ devices for 0.63 μm⩽λ⩽1.56 μm. Use of this formalism to assess acceptable process parameter and wavelength tolerances is demonstrated     

Fluorescence and superfluorescence line narrowing and tunability ofNd3+ doped fibers

The inhomogeneous behavior of the 1.06 μm-neodymium transitions in doped optical fibers have been investigated, using the fluorescence line narrowing technique, pumping on the ⁴F_3/2 and ⁴F_5/2 sublevels at 4 K. Each observed transition has been identified. As the pump wavelength varies, the shift of the main fluorescence line is 40 nm, with the two pumping levels. We have studied the spectral behavior of the superfluorescence as a function of the pump wavelength, the temperature, and the absorbed power. The spectral evolution depends on λ_p with 19 nm-tuning range at low temperature. At 300 K, the quasihomogeneous behavior of the transition decreases the tunability to 14 nm. Based on these results, we present a simple technique permitting precise prediction of gain and spectral line shapes of superfluorescent Nd-doped fiber sources     

Analysis of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers pumped in the4I15/2-4I13/2 band

A theoretical model for the amplifiers predicts gain coefficients of around 2 dB per milliwatt of launched pump power, in close agreement with previously reported measurements. The model is also used to determine the optimal pump wavelength λ_opt that maximizes the amplifier gain. It is shown that the latter is insensitive to pump detuning near λ_opt=1.48 μm, within a 20 nm range, which indicates that broadband, multimode laser diode pump sources and pumps with narrow linewidths should yield identical gain performance