Patent ID: 7701985
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. An SOI-based tunable laser formed within a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure comprising a silicon substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the silicon substrate and a relatively thin silicon surface layer formed over the dielectric layer, the SOI-based tunable laser comprising: optical gain medium disposed within a cavity region formed in the SOI structure, the cavity region formed downward from a top major surface of said SOI structure and including optically smooth vertical sidewalls; a tunable wavelength reflecting element formed within the SOI structure for selecting a particular wavelength output for said tunable laser; a phase matching element formed within the SOI structure and disposed between the tunable wavelength reflecting element and the optical gain medium; and optical waveguides formed along the relatively thin silicon surface layer to interconnect said optical gain medium, tunable wavelength reflecting element and phase matching element.