Compact Optical Generation of Microwave Signals Using a Monolithic Quantum Dot Passively Mode-Locked Laser

Author

Lin, C.-Y. ; Xin, Y.-C. ; Kim, J.H. ; Christodoulou, C.G. ; Lester, L.F.

Author_Institution

Center for High Technol. Mater., Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Volume

1

Issue

4

fYear

2009

Firstpage

236

Lastpage

244

Abstract

Microwave signal generation from the saturable absorber of a monolithic quantum dot passively mode-locked laser is presented. We observe a differential efficiency of 33% that measures the optical-to-RF power conversion. An optimum extraction efficiency of the saturable absorber of about 86% is also found. To assess the stability of the device, the mode-locking operation regime of the quantum dot device is analyzed and compared to the quantum well system. Our findings confirm that quantum dot mode-locked lasers are suitable candidates for the optical generation of RF signals in a compact and efficient semiconductor device.

Keywords

laser beams; laser mode locking; laser stability; microwave generation; microwave photonics; quantum dot lasers; microwave signal generation; monolithic quantum dot passively mode-locked laser; optical generation; optical-to-RF power conversion; quantum dot device; saturable absorber; semiconductor device; Laser mode locking; Masers; Microwave devices; Microwave generation; Power conversion; Power measurement; Quantum dot lasers; Quantum well lasers; Signal generators; Stability analysis; Mode-locked lasers; multifrequency antennas; reconfigurable architectures; semiconductor lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1943-0655

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPHOT.2009.2035523

Filename

5306103