Monolithically integrated mode-locked ring lasers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers in AlGaInAs

McMaster, Steven (2010) Monolithically integrated mode-locked ring lasers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers in AlGaInAs. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In this thesis, monolithically integrated photonic devices for next generation optical
telecommunications networks were investigated, namely semiconductor modelocked
ring lasers and Mach-Zehnder interferometers operating at 1550 nm. Fabricated
on the aluminium quaternary, the 2.3mm long passively mode-locked ring
devices produced 1 ps pulses at a repetition rate of around 36GHz. It was found
that the symmetrically placed dual saturable absorber configuration lead to the
largest area of stable mode-locking, agreeing well with theoretical predictions in
the literature. Optical harmonic injection mode-locking was found to improve the
pulse timing stability, with a reduction in the radio frequency 3 dB linewidth from
1.4MHz down to 108 kHz, indicating a vast improvement in timing jitter. The
sputtered SiO2 quantum-well intermixing technique allowed for the realisation of
both symmetric and asymmetric arm length Mach-Zehnder interferometers, which
were demonstrated as an electro-optic switch, tunable wavelength filter and optical
code division multiple access encoder/decoder. The work concluded with the
monolithic integration of a mode-locked ring laser and asymmetric Mach-Zehnder
interferometer to demonstrate a simple, yet effective, photonic integrated circuit.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Photonics, lasers, integration
• Subjects: T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
• Supervisor's Name: Sorel, Dr. Marc
• Date of Award: 2010
• Depositing User: Dr Steven McMaster
• Unique ID: glathesis:2010-1831
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 21 May 2010
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:47
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1831