SELF-REGISTERED COMB LASER SOURCE

摘要

An integrated optical source is described. This optical source outputs one or more optical signals that provide a comb of wavelengths for use in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical interconnects or links. In particular, a shared echelle grating is used as a wavelength-selective filter or control device for multiple lasing cavities to achieve self-registered and accurate lasing-channel spacing without inter-channel gain competition. Furthermore, the optical source can be used to provide all the wavelength channels in one optical waveguide or in separate optical waveguides. Therefore, the optical source may be used with cascaded ring-resonator modulators and/or electro-absorption-based broadband modulators.

主权项

1. An optical source, comprising:
a first mirror configured to at least partially reflect a first optical signal having multiple wavelengths; a first optical waveguide optically coupled to the first mirror, configured to convey the first optical signal; a wavelength-control device, wherein the wavelength-control device includes:
a first optical port configured to couple to the first optical waveguide;a propagation region configured to convey the first optical signal;an optical device configured to image and diffract the first optical signal using a reflective geometry in one propagation direction, and to image and diffract second optical signals having the wavelengths using the reflective geometry in another propagation direction, wherein a given second optical signal has a given wavelength; andsecond optical ports, optically coupled to diffraction orders of the optical device, configured to convey the second optical signals having the wavelengths, wherein a given second optical port provides the given second optical signal; and optical paths, optically coupled to the second optical ports, including second optical waveguides configured to convey the second optical signals, optical gain mechanisms configured to amplify the second optical signals, and second mirrors configured to at least partially reflect the second optical signals.