Composite Grating Silicon Laser for Easier Wavelength Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tunable lasers face high fabrication costs due to complex processes and difficulties in wavelength tunability, which are not efficiently addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A laser device with a silicon-based structure and active light-emitting structure, featuring composite gratings with different grating periods, allowing for the formation of multiple laser units that can emit light of different wavelengths and facilitate wavelength tuning through heterogeneous integration and precise grating adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vernier effect structure is used to achieve wavelength tunability, then the laser can change output wavelength within a certain range, but the fabrication process becomes relatively difficult and fabrication costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laser device is divided into multiple independent laser units, each corresponding to one composite grating. Each laser unit includes an active light-emitting unit and a composite grating structure, allowing independent fabrication and optimization of each unit while achieving overall wavelength tunability across the array.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite grating structure consists of a primary grating with multiple secondary gratings nested within it. The secondary gratings are periodically arranged to form the primary grating structure, creating a hierarchical nested design that enables wavelength tuning while simplifying the overall fabrication process through standardized composite grating units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple laser units with different grating periods are integrated, then multiple wavelengths can be emitted and tuned, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The composite grating structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the primary wavelength-selective element and contains nested secondary gratings for fine-tuning. The same composite grating design is used across all laser units, providing a universal structure that handles both coarse and fine wavelength tuning without requiring additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser units are arranged in a two-dimensional array with rows and columns. Laser units in the same row share the same silicon-based waveguide (series connection), while units in the same column use different waveguides (parallel connection). This spatial arrangement allows multiple wavelengths to be emitted and tuned simultaneously through the array structure without requiring complex three-dimensional integration.
3Productivity
If heterogeneous integration is used to bond active light-emitting structure to silicon-based structure, then light transmission and emission efficiency is improved, but the fabrication process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding process utilizes controlled parameter changes including temperature, pressure, and surface treatment conditions to achieve reliable heterogeneous integration between the active light-emitting structure and silicon-based structure. By optimizing these parameters, the bonding process achieves high light transmission efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through standardized bonding procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the complexity and cost of wavelength tuning by enabling efficient light transmission and emission of multiple wavelengths, minimizing loss during the tuning process and enhancing switching speed.
Implementation Method 1
each composite grating includes one primary grating and a plurality of secondary gratings, the secondary gratings are periodically arranged to form the primary grating
Implementation Method 2
a silicon-based structure bonded to the active light-emitting structure and including a silicon-based waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
A laser capable of reducing the difficulty of a wavelength tuning process, a fabrication method therefor, and a laser device. The laser comprises: an active light-emitting structure used for emitting light; a silicon-based structure which is bonded to the active light-emitting structure, and which comprises a silicon-based waveguide and at least two composite gratings, wherein the composite gratings are opposite to the active light-emitting structure and are formed in the silicon-based waveguide. Each composite grating comprises one primary grating and a plurality of secondary gratings, the secondary gratings are periodically arranged to form the primary grating, and the primary gratings in at least a portion of the composite gratings have different grating periods from that of the primary gratings in other composite gratings. The silicon-based structure and the active light-emitting structure form at least two laser units, and each laser unit corresponds to one composite grating.