Tunable laser source with monolithically integrated interferometric optical modulator

A monolithically-integrated semiconductor optical transmitter that can index tune to any transmission wavelength in a given range, wherein the range is larger than that achievable by the maximum refractive index tuning allowed by the semiconductor material itself (i.e. Δλ/λ>Δn/n). In practice, this tuning range is >15 nm. The transmitter includes a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator monolithically integrated with a widely tunable laser and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). By using an interferometric modulation, the transmitter can dynamically control the chirp in the resulting modulated signal over the wide tuning range of the laser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to laser assemblies, and more particularly to a widely tunable laser assembly with an integrated optical modulator.

2. Description of the Related Art

(Note: This application references a number of different patents and/or publications as indicated throughout the specification by reference numbers enclosed in brackets, e.g., [x]. A list of these different patents and/or publications ordered according to these reference numbers can be found below in the section entitled “References.” Each of these patents and/or publications is incorporated by reference herein.)

A compact, high-performance widely-tunable integrated laser/modulator chip would be a key component of a tunable transmitter that can dramatically lower the barriers to deployment and operation of high capacity, dense-wavelength division-multiplexing (DWDM) networks. Traditional non-tunable implementations of DWDM transmitters have discouraged the integration of laser source and modulator because of the high cost of these individual components combined with the fact that separate part numbers for each wavelength and its spare would have to be inventoried. Several implementations of such co-packaged transmitters exist for 10 Gb/s transmission in which the laser and modulator are fabricated on separate chips and coupled together by micro-optics. Given systems employing as many as 100 or more wavelengths, this model has contributed to the mountains of inventory associated with the current telecom build-out. However, a widely-tunable laser with full band coverage would resolve this problem by using a single part for all channels with minimal spares, and would give an economic impetus for the further integration of source and modulator into one hermetic package.

The present invention describes an approach wherein a laser and modulator are fabricated by monolithic integration on a single indium phosphide (InP) chip. The laser is a widely-tunable Sampled Grating Distributed Bragg Reflector (SG-DBR) laser that is made possible by an InP-based technology platform that can integrate active waveguide, passive waveguide, and grating reflector sections, all of which can be tuned by current injection.

The modulator is a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator, which is the structure of choice for long-reach transmission systems of 10 Gb/s or more because of its favorable chirp and extinction characteristics. The MZ modulator includes two curved waveguides whose relative optical phase length can be adjusted at high speed with a modulation voltage through the electro-optic effect, and two multimode interference (MMI) couplers that successively split the incoming light into two paths and then constructively or destructively combine the light on the output depending on the modulated phase difference. As a discrete component, the MZ modulator is typically fabricated on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) or gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates with device lengths of several centimeters, thus requiring the use of a traveling-wave electrode geometry to overcome capacitance limitations.

A monolithically integrated laser and modulator presents a number of opportunities. Lower voltage and smaller modulator size through the use of the quadratic electro-optic effect in InP allow for a compact chip (4×0.5 mm2) and package (30×10 mm2), as well as lower power dissipation in the modulator. Low coupling loss between laser and modulator calls for reduced laser launch power and hence lower power dissipation in the laser.

Additional benefits of the InP integration platform include modulator chirp control through tuning current injection, additional amplification stages for higher power output, as well as integrated tap photodiodes for modulator bias control. Furthermore, the developed technology can be used to supply enabling building blocks to provide additional functionality including alternative data encoding formats and modulation techniques which will become necessary for next generation systems due to the combination of high bit rates and small channel spacing.

Several embodiments of InP MZ modulators with and without integrated lasers have been disclosed in the literature [1,2,3]. For example, the prior art has disclosed a tunable laser with an integrated MZ modulator [1,2]; however, the tuning range was limited by the laser design to the amount of index shift achievable in InP materials and in practice to <2.5 nm. Additional prior art has been disclosed on the integration of widely tunable lasers with electro-absorptive modulators [4,14]; however, this structure has limited dispersion tolerance due to positive chirp inherent in the bulk Franz-Keldysh modulator used for operation over the wide wavelength tuning range of the laser. Other art has integrated multiple smaller tuning range lasers with a single modulator to cover a wider wavelength range [21]; however, this approach suffers an inherent loss due to the need to couple the multiple lasers into single input, and the additional issues relating to temperature change in the modulator when tuning the individual lasers to the desired frequency.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by integrating a single laser where the tuning range is larger than what is achievable through index change (in practice >40 nm) with an interferometric modulator whose chirp can be optimized and controlled over such a wide wavelength range.

Conventional InP MZ modulators suffer from additional attenuation when voltage is applied for the necessary phase shift. This problem degrades the extinction ratio and prevents negative chirp in conventional InP modulators. The prior art has disclosed inserting a π (i.e. 180°) phase shift between the arms and changing the splitting ratio of the input and output splitters in the MZ modulator to allow for simultaneous high extinction and negative chirp [5,6,7,17]. Additional prior art has disclosed the use of additional voltage electrodes to change the value of this phase shift after fabrication [8,17]. These approaches in the prior art have deficiencies in that the range of differential phase shift between the arms (without any bias applied) must be tightly controlled in the device and deviations in fabrication, over temperature and over life need to be compensated with voltage, inducing additional undesirable loss and extinction ratio changes.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by using electrodes that inject current to adjust the phase shift between the arms to any value that is desired. The present invention allows 10× less loss for a given phase shift allowing for a larger range of phase shifts to be achieved without degrading the extinction ratio due to loss imbalance. This improvement creates a MZ modulator that has characteristics much more similar to LiNbO3or GaAs modulators in that the devices can be operated with any built-in differential phase shift between the arms, and not necessarily 180 degrees as stated in the prior art [5,17].

One of the serious issues in the prior art with integrating a laser monolithically with a MZ modulator is that the modulator designs shown in the prior art reflect light differently between the on and off state of the modulator [9,10]. This reflection slightly perturbs the lasing wavelength of the on-chip laser imparting additional chirp on the modulated light signal and degrading fiber optic transmission.

The present invention overcomes this limitation by using a 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler acting as a combiner in the output of the MZ modulator. This improvement causes the on and off state of the modulator to have the same reflectivity which does not impart any frequency chirp due to the laser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of this invention to provide a monolithically-integrated, widely-tunable, semiconductor optical transmitter that can index tune to any transmission wavelength in a given range, wherein the range is larger than that achievable by the maximum refractive index tuning allowed by the semiconductor material itself (i.e. Δλ/λ>Δn/n). In practice, this tuning range is >15 nm. Furthermore, the transmitter contains a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator monolithically integrated with the widely tunable laser and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). By using an interferometric modulation, the transmitter can dynamically control the chirp in the resulting modulated signal over the wide tuning range of the laser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2are views that schematically illustrate a monolithically-integrated, semiconductor optical transmitter device100according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a cross-sectional side view of the device100, andFIG. 1is a top view of the device100.

The device100is comprised of a common substrate102(which may comprise InP); at least one epitaxial structure104(which may comprise varying layers of InP, InGaAsP, InGaAs, InGaAsP, etc.) formed on the common substrate102; a widely-tunable sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SGDBR) laser resonator106, formed on the common substrate in the epitaxial structure104, for producing a light beam; and a semiconductor Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator108, formed on the common substrate102in the same or different epitaxial structure104as the laser106, for modulating the light beam, wherein the MZ modulator108is positioned external to the laser106, but along a common waveguide110with the laser. Preferably, a wavelength tuning range of the laser106is wider than what is achievable through an index change and a chirp of the modulated light beam is dynamically controlled by the MZ modulator108over the wider wavelength tuning range of the laser106.

The laser106preferably is comprised of a front mirror or reflector112, a back mirror or reflector114, a gain section116positioned between the front and back mirrors112,114or incorporated within the mirrors112,114, and a phase section118, all of which are situated along the common waveguide110. By applying an appropriate combination of currents to112,114,116and118, a light beam is produced by the laser106, wherein any frequency of the light beam within the designed tuning range can be emitted from the laser106. In this embodiment, the wavelength of the light beam is tunable over a wider wavelength range than is achievable by index tuning of any one section112,114,116and118, and the wider wavelength range is represented by Δλ/λ>Δn/n, wherein λ represents the wavelength of the light beam, Δλ represents the change (or delta) in the wavelength of the light beam, n represents the index tuning of the laser106, and Δn represents the change (or delta) in the index tuning of the laser106.

To simplify operation and decouple power control from the wavelength tuning, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)120is situated after the laser106and before the MZ modulator108, wherein the SOA120amplifies the light beam produced by the laser106. The SOA120is formed on the common substrate102in the same or different epitaxial structure104as the laser106and/or MZ modulator108.

The device100also includes a back facet monitor122positioned adjacent the back mirror114and a front tap124positioned between the SOA120and MZ modulator108.

Other embodiments of widely tunable lasers are known to those skilled in the art [19,20] and, in general, they can be classified as having more than one independently controlled section wherein the output wavelength of the laser is tunable over a wider wavelength range than is achievable by index tuning in any one section, and the wider wavelength range is represented by Δλ/λ>Δn/n.

Preferably, the MZ modulator108(also known as an MZ interferometer or MZI) is comprised of a first 1×2 (or N×2) multimode interference (MMI) coupler126that splits (equally or unequally) the light generated from the laser106and amplified by the SOA120into first and second components of equal or unequal magnitude that are directed by first and second interferometric arms128of an optical waveguide, respectively, to two inputs of a second 2×2 (or 2×N) MMI coupler130that combines (equally or unequally) the first and second components interferometrically, thereby directing the combined components to one of the output waveguides of the coupler130, wherein the optical path length difference of the arms128determines into which output of the second MMI coupler130to direct the combined components.

Both arms128comprise curved waveguides, and each of the arms128contain a first electrode132for applying an electric field to modulate the light beam, and at least one of the arms128contains a second electrode134for applying a current to adjust a phase of the light beam. Specifically, the electrodes132accept a modulation voltage to adjust a relative optical phase length of the arm128at high speed through an electro-optic effect, while the electrodes134permit a free selection of a differential phase shift between the interferometric arms128with minimal attenuation. The first MMI coupler126successively splits the light beam into separate paths for the arms128and the second MMI coupler130then constructively or destructively combines the light beams from the arms, depending on their modulated phase difference, into an output.

The MMI couplers126and130are designed to prevent reflection of light beam back into the laser106cavity by ensuring that the input/output faces of the MMI couplers126and130form an obtuse angle with the sides of the input/output waveguides110. Further, the second MMI coupler130has two outputs such that a residual reflectivity is the same when the light beam is directed toward either of the outputs, which ensures that the laser106is not perturbed differently as the MZ modulator108switches the light between the paths under modulation.

Following the 2×2 MMI coupler130, two output couplers136are formed on the common substrate102in the same or different epitaxial structure104, wherein at least one of the output couplers136is positioned and configured to receive the light beam output from the MZ modulator108, and couple the light beam output from the MZ modulator108to a following optical assembly (not shown).

These output couplers136reduce back reflections to the MZ modulator108. In addition, the output couplers136may be used to transform a shape of an optical mode of the light beam at the output of the MZ modulator108to a substantially circular pattern to produce a symmetric farfield pattern, as opposed to a conventional elliptical pattern typical of semiconductor waveguides. In general, the farfield should be modified to match the requirements of the optical assembly used to couple the light beam into an optical fiber and is not necessarily limited to circular patterns.

FIG. 3is a top view that schematically illustrates the output couplers136according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the MZ modulator108is in an “on” state, the light beam exits through the lower or first of the output couplers136, and when the MZ modulator108is in an “off” state, the light beam exits through the upper or second of the output couplers136.

Both of the output couplers136are curved to prevent the light beam exiting from a facet of the device100in a direction that is perpendicular to the facet. In addition, the paths of the output couplers136preferably are at an angle relative to each other. Consequently, the respective light beams generated during the “on” state and “off” state of the MZ modulator102propagate at an angle φ relative to each other that is greater than 20 degrees from each other after exiting the device100.

The device100also includes an electrode138that monitors an optical power of the light beam output from the MZ modulator108, through the collection of photocurrent, wherein the electrode is positioned to receive the light beam from the second output coupler136. The electrode138can be positioned to receive the light beam before it reaches the facet, as shown inFIGS. 1,2and3, or it can be positioned to receive the light beam reflecting from the facet, as depicted inFIG. 4. InFIG. 4, the angle between the direction of propagation along the second output coupler136and the facet of the device may be made greater than a critical angle to induce a total internal reflection of the light beam.

The prior art has disclosed an arrangement absorb the light from the output of the modulator [18]; however, the present invention is intended to convert all of the modulated light to photocurrent and is not suitable for applications where the light output of a MZ modulator will be coupled to an optical assembly separate from the integrated device. Furthermore, the prior art uses a 2×1 combiner, necessitating a complex scheme for coupling the light to the tap detector. The use of a 2×2 MMI coupler130in the present invention allows for the substantially simpler embodiments.

The high efficient nature of current induced phase tuning can be used to create additional enhancements to the monolithically integrated tunable transmitter. The prior art has discussed that the chirp of semiconductor modulators can be adjusted by changing the splitting ratio of the splitters used in an MZ modulator [11] or by modifying the RF drive applied to a dual drive MZI [12,13]. The prior art has also disclosed the use of control electrodes to modify the chirp of the modulated waveform by applying DC voltage to the control electrodes contained in the arms [8], but this approach has a limited ability to change the chirp and can adversely effect the modulator extinction ratio due to imparting a loss imbalance in the arms. Additional prior art has disclosed the addition of an electrode to modify the splitting ratio to increase the extinction ratio of the modulator [16], but has not discussed modifying the splitting ratio of the combiner or discussed the possibility of tuning the chirp.

FIG. 5illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein one or more additional short MZ modulators140, which act as variable splitters or combiners, are positioned before and/or after the MZ modulator108. The additional short MZ modulators140, which are formed on the common substrate102in the epitaxial structure104, modify chirp properties of the MZ modulator108. The splitting and/or combining ratio of the additional short MZ modulators140can be modified by injecting current into their electrodes134to dynamically control the chirp properties of the MZ modulator108without adjusting the modulation voltage applied to the electrodes132in either arm128.

The use of electrodes134as current-induced phase shifters in the splitting/combining MZ modulators140makes this practical, as they do not significantly lengthen the device100(<500 um) or add substantial insertion loss (<2 dB). Further, the insertion loss would remain relatively constant for a range of splitting ratios around the nominal unbiased value due to the low increase in loss incurred by using current induced index change. Voltage-based electrodes132performing this function would be impractical due to the high additional loss (>6 dB), large size (>1 mm) and large variation in insertion loss as the splitting ratio changes.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the device100power is adjusted over a large dynamic range. This is desirable feature can be obtained by adding one or more additional short MZ modulators142, which are formed on the common substrate102in the epitaxial structure104, to the monolithically integrated device100. In this embodiment, each of the additional short MZ modulators142functions as a variable optical attenuator (VOA).FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment wherein the additional short MZ modulator142is positioned before the MZ modulator108, whileFIG. 7illustrates an embodiment wherein the additional short MZ modulator142is positioned after the MZ modulator108.

The prior art has disclosed the addition of an absorptive VOA prior to a modulator [15]; however, there are several deficiencies with the prior art approach. First, the power dissipation of this approach scales dramatically with the input power to be attenuated and the degree of attenuation (5-10 times the input optical power) necessitating designs that are multi-section to avoid catastrophic damage due to heating. These multi-section designs add substantial length to the modulator (over a factor of 2 as compared to a modulator alone).

FIGS. 6 and 7, on the other hand, illustrate configurations where the VOA is created using a short interferometric optical attenuator, i.e., the additional short MZ modulator142, controlled by current injection via electrodes134. The advantage of this embodiment is that it adds only <500 um to the length (less than 30% increase) and the power dissipation is limited to <20 mW regardless of the optical input power.

REFERENCES

The following references are incorporated by reference herein:

[14] U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,259, issued Jun. 3, 2003, to Fish et al., and entitled Method of making an opto-electronic laser with integrated modulator.

[16] U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,005, issue Dec. 25, 2001, to Burie et al., and entitled Modulator of the Mach-Zehnder type having a very high extinction ratio.

[21] U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,017, issued Feb. 4, 2003, to Matsumoto, and entitled Multiwavelength semiconductor laser device with single modulator and drive method therefor.

CONCLUSION