Indium Phosphide Photonic Integrated Circuits for Coherent Optical Links

Abstract

We demonstrate photonic circuits monolithically integrated on an InP-based platform for use in coherent communication links. We describe a technology platform that allows for the integration of numerous circuit elements. We show examples of an integrated transmitter which offers an on-chip wavelength-division-multiplexing source with a flat gain profile across a 2 THz band and a new device design to provide a flatted gain over a 5 THz band. We show coherent receivers incorporating an integrated widely tunable local oscillator as well as an optical PLL. Finally, we demonstrate a tunable optical bandpass filter for use in analog coherent radio frequency links with a measured spurious-free dynamic range of 86.3 dB-Hz <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2/3</sup> as well as an improved design to exceed 117 dB-Hz <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2/3</sup> .