Intrinsically matched 50-ohm laser arrays with greater than 100% quantum efficiencies for optically coupled transistors and low-loss fiber optic links

Stephen G. Ayling; David R. Wight; Michael Allenson; Keith P. Hilton; Gilbert W. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.307608

4 May 1998 Intrinsically matched 50-ohm laser arrays with greater than 100% quantum efficiencies for optically coupled transistors and low-loss fiber optic links

Stephen G. Ayling, David R. Wight, Michael Allenson, Keith P. Hilton, Gilbert W. Smith

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3285, Fabrication, Testing, Reliability, and Applications of Semiconductor Lasers III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.307608
Event: Optoelectronics and High-Power Lasers and Applications, 1998, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

A new concept for optical signal transmission and amplification has been demonstrated. By connecting the lasers of an integrated array in series, rather than the usual parallel connection, significant quantum gain has been achieved. The forward voltage, dynamic resistance and external incremental slope efficiency of the array are simply the sum of the characteristics of the individual laser elements. However, the threshold current is the same as that of a single laser, thus avoiding the very high threshold currents found for parallel laser arrays. By choosing the appropriate number of laser elements the dynamic resistance of the array can be made to equal 50 Ohms giving an intrinsic broadband match for RF modulation without needing any additional resistors or impedance matching circuitry. Thus we demonstrate a ten element AlGaAs laser array with a forward voltage of 15 Volts, a broadband (DC to 500 MHz) impedance of 50 Ohms and a slope efficiency of 4.97 W/A per facet. In combination with a photodiode this forms an optically coupled transistor with a current gain of 3 dB. Such laser arrays can be used in low loss fiber optic links where the increased quantum efficiency compensates for losses within the system, and broadband insertion gain is potentially feasible.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen G. Ayling, David R. Wight, Michael Allenson, Keith P. Hilton, and Gilbert W. Smith "Intrinsically matched 50-ohm laser arrays with greater than 100% quantum efficiencies for optically coupled transistors and low-loss fiber optic links", Proc. SPIE 3285, Fabrication, Testing, Reliability, and Applications of Semiconductor Lasers III, (4 May 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.307608

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