Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Photonic devices are important components of fiber optics communication systems and also many popular devices, such as laser printers and compact disc players. Conceptualization, design, modeling, fabrication and testing of these devices are long and costly processes. Computer simulations typically play a very important role in this process by shortening the design time for new products. Thus, the advancement of design and simulation tools for these devices plays an increasingly important role.With the present proposal, we plan to extend our recent research project entitled ""Dynamics of quantum well based semiconductor laser using transmission line laser model"" that was supported by Ontario Centres of Excellence and conducted jointly with Optiwave which showed significant success. Therefore, we plan to continue the development of mathematical models and the relevant software simulation tools and use them to simulate and analyze semiconductor optical amplifiers and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Both devices use a very thin (about 10 nm thick) active layer, known as quantum well, responsible for light generation and/or amplification.This research is not only important to our industrial partner, Optiwave Systems, which develops simulation software tools to analyze photonic systems and devices, but it also shows great research promises and offers the possibilities to train students, at both undergraduate and graduate levels.The outcomes of our research will be an improved description of the active photonic devices and in particular dynamical processes taking place there. The research results will be in the form of physical models and associated software application. In due process, the software will be used to simulate new and improved semiconductor lasers with better dynamical characteristics. Optiwave plans to actively commercialize the results of our proposed project.