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Few-fJ/bit data transmissions using directly modulated lambda-scale embedded active region photonic-crystal lasers

Nature Photonics volume 7, pages 569–575 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

A low operating energy is needed for nanocavity lasers designed for on-chip photonic network applications. On-chip nanocavity lasers must be driven by current because they act as light sources driven by electronic circuits. Here, we report the high-speed direct modulation of a lambda-scale embedded active region photonic-crystal (LEAP) laser that holds three records for any type of laser operated at room temperature: a low threshold current of 4.8 µA, a modulation current efficiency of 2.0 GHz µA−0.5 and an operating energy of 4.4 fJ bit−1. Five major technologies make this performance possible: a compact buried heterostructure, a photonic-crystal nanocavity, a lateral p–n junction realized by ion implantation and thermal diffusion, an InAlAs sacrificial layer and current-blocking trenches. We believe that an output power of 2.17 µW and an operating energy of 4.4 fJ bit−1 will enable us to realize on-chip photonic networks in combination with the recently developed highly sensitive receivers.

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Figure 1: Design of the current blocking trenches on the LEAP lasers.
Figure 2: Schematic and SEM images of LEAP lasers.
Figure 3: Static characteristics of the LEAP lasers.
Figure 4: Small signal responses of the LEAP lasers.
Figure 5: Large signal modulations of the LEAP lasers.
Figure 6: BERs of LEAP lasers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank K. Ishibashi and Y. Shouji for fabricating the devices. Part of this work was supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NTT Photonics Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi-shi, 243-0198, Kanagawa, Japan

    Koji Takeda, Tomonari Sato, Wataru Kobayashi, Koichi Hasebe, Takaaki Kakitsuka & Shinji Matsuo

  2. NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi-shi, 243-0198, Kanagawa, Japan

    Akihiko Shinya, Kengo Nozaki, Hideaki Taniyama & Masaya Notomi

  3. Nanophotonics Center, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi-shi, 243-0198, Kanagawa, Japan

    Koji Takeda, Tomonari Sato, Akihiko Shinya, Kengo Nozaki, Hideaki Taniyama, Masaya Notomi, Koichi Hasebe, Takaaki Kakitsuka & Shinji Matsuo

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  1. Koji Takeda
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Contributions

K.T. and S.M. performed the measurements and wrote the manuscript. K.T., A.S., K.N. and M.N. designed the devices. H.T. and T.K. carried out the numerical simulations. K.T., T.S., W.K., K.H. and S.M. fabricated the devices. S.M. led the project.

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Correspondence to Koji Takeda.

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Takeda, K., Sato, T., Shinya, A. et al. Few-fJ/bit data transmissions using directly modulated lambda-scale embedded active region photonic-crystal lasers. Nature Photon 7, 569–575 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2013.110

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