Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Indium phosphide (InP) is one of the key semiconductors for production/integration of active and passive semiconductor devices, and large-scale photonic integrated circuits. Recently, quantum-dot (QD) semiconductor lasers, an emerging research area and one of the key InP devices in optical communications, and optoelectronic and photonic devices, have many advantages when compared to conventional quantum well (QW) lasers. Use of QDs leads to a broader optical gain spectrum, lower temperature sensitivity, higher saturation output power, smaller chirp and smaller linewidth enhancement factor, as well as the independent multi-wavelength operation. Perhaps more importantly, one-section multi-wavelength QD lasers can become coherent frequency comb sources and mode-locked lasers when the laser driving current is beyond a certain level when the QD lasers are fabricated by chemical beam epitaxy. Moreover, the QD model-locked lasers have higher repetition rate, ultra-narrower pulse width, higher output power and lower timing jitter than any other two-section mode-locked lasers. Currently, we are collaborating with National Research Council (NRC) on InP QD lasers (including many new QD lasers). Examples are the QD mode-locked lasers having repetition rate of 10-100 GHz and pulse width of down to 295 fs, 403-437 GHz repetition pulses using external cavities, tunable terahertz generation of 1-2.2 THz using tunable external cavities. In addition, we have developed a physical model that has been successfully applied to the analysis of QD laser mode-locking. This five year research project is proposed to develop comprehensive physical models for QD laser modeling and design, which will not only be first of its kind but also an important tool for QD laser design optimization. We will also investigate novel and new designs of QD laser physical structures for achieving lower threshold for lasing and mode-locking, optical gain spectrum > 20 nm, modulation bandwidth > 20 GHz, relative intensity noise < -140 dB/Hz, and RF linewidth < 1 KHz etc.. This is a real challenge to researchers. Physical models will be created using the commercial software applications like Crosslight and Silvaco technology computer aided design (TCAD) integrating with our innovative theories and models. Users of this new platform can deploy the basic functions directly from the commercial software applications while we can dedicate our new, sophisticated tools for the QD lasers models. Upon using the new tool to model and optimize the physical designs, NRC will then help us fabricate them with regard to the different QD laser criteria. This novel research will expand and strengthen research and training in InP lasers and photonic integrated circuits, and will deliver a comprehensive study of QD laser modeling and design which will be an asset to Canada and the world. The developed lasers can have applications to medicine,optical sensing, advanced optical /wireless communications and THz generation. Moreover, the Canadian economy will have the needed ?high-tech skills?, the ?sophisticated level of education? trained HQP who will be job-ready. There will be no skills ?mismatch? . Our well-rounded HQP will be sought after by NRC, Ciena in Ottawa, JDSU in Ottawa, EXFO in Quebec, Ericsson Canada, TeraXion in Quebec, OneChip in Ottawa, CRC in Ottawa, Infinera in Ottawa, OZ Optics in Ottawa, Alcatel-Lucent in Ottawa, Excelitas Technologies in Montreal, and ART Research and Technology in Montreal etc, where some of my HQP are working.This project will foster internationally competitive research directly contributing to Canada's science and technology needs.