Integrated Feedback Waveguide Laser for Narrow Linewidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical communication technologies require lasers with a linewidth narrower than 5 MHz to support higher modulation formats and reduce power consumption, which current lasers struggle to achieve.
Innovation Solution
A distributed feedback laser design with an integrated feedback waveguide within the laser cavity, utilizing a gain region waveguide and feedback waveguide to increase equivalent cavity length, reduce resonant cavity loss, and compress linewidth, while integrating the feedback waveguide monolithically to minimize material and processing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the linewidth of the laser is reduced to less than 5 MHz to meet optical communication requirements, then the modulation format performance and power consumption are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the feedback waveguide inside the laser cavity, integrating it with the gain region waveguide to form a unified structure. This monolithic integration eliminates the need for separate external cavity components, achieving narrow linewidth (less than 5 MHz) while reducing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback waveguide is nested within the laser cavity structure, with the gain region waveguide and feedback waveguide co-integrated in a nested arrangement. This nesting approach allows the feedback mechanism to be embedded within the existing laser structure, achieving linewidth compression without adding external complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If an external cavity is disposed outside the laser cavity to reduce linewidth, then the linewidth compression is achieved, but the integration is reduced and material and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback waveguide is merged with the gain region waveguide inside the laser cavity, creating a monolithically integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate external cavity components, achieving linewidth compression while improving ease of manufacture by reducing the number of discrete parts and assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback function is extracted from the external cavity and integrated directly into the laser cavity structure. By taking out the need for external cavity components and embedding the feedback mechanism within the gain region waveguide, the patent achieves linewidth control while simplifying manufacturing
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 laser achieves a linewidth of less than 1 MHz, meeting wireless transmission requirements up to 10 km with improved integration and reduced costs, and supports efficient optical signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
both the gain region waveguide and the feedback waveguide are waveguides having an optical transmission function
Implementation Method 2
The second end face can reflect the light back to the feedback waveguide
Implementation Method 3
The first end face has a reflection function, and can reflect the light back to the gain region waveguide
Implementation Method 4
The first end face further has a transmission function, and an obtained laser light with a narrow linewidth may be emitted through the first end face
Implementation Method 5
the light is reflected back and forth between the first end face and the second end face, to form resonance
Data Source
AI summary
A laser, an optical module, and an apparatus are provided. The laser includes a gain region waveguide, a feedback waveguide, a first end face, and a second end face. The gain region waveguide and the feedback waveguide are located between the first end face and the second end face, an end of the gain region waveguide is connected to an end of the feedback waveguide, and the feedback waveguide) is located on a side that is of the gain region waveguide and that is close to the second end face. The first end face and the second end face are configured to transmit light in the gain region waveguide and the feedback waveguide, and the first end face is configured to transmit laser light.