Heterogeneous Integration for Mid-infrared Silicon Photonics

TLDR

Heterogeneous integration enables fully integrated silicon photonic systems with passive and active elements, and recent advances have extended these platforms to the mid‑infrared (2–20 µm) range, which offers broad sensing applications, though the optimal platform for each application remains unclear. This review surveys silicon photonic waveguide platforms and mid‑infrared lasers, including quantum cascade lasers on silicon, and examines progress toward an integrated multispectral source. The integrated multispectral source is achieved by beam‑combining outputs from multiple lasers using arrayed waveguide gratings and duplexing adiabatic couplers.

Abstract

Heterogeneous integration enables the construction of silicon (Si) photonic systems, which are fully integrated with a range of passive and active elements including lasers and detectors. Numerous advancements in recent years have shown that heterogeneous Si platforms can be extended beyond near-infrared telecommunication wavelengths to the mid-infrared (MIR) (2-20 μm) regime. These wavelengths hold potential for an extensive range of sensing applications and the necessary components for fully integrated heterogeneous MIR Si photonic technologies have now been demonstrated. However, due to the broad wavelength range and the diverse assortment of MIR technologies, the optimal platform for each specific application is unclear. Here, we overview Si photonic waveguide platforms and lasers at the MIR, including quantum cascade lasers on Si. We also discuss progress toward building an integrated multispectral source, which can be constructed by wavelength beam combining the outputs from multiple lasers with arrayed waveguide gratings and duplexing adiabatic couplers.