Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) operating in the mid-infrared spectral range (mid-IR, wavelengths in the range 3-15 micrometers) are of interest for a wide range of applications, including spectroscopy and sensing in the molecular fingerprint region, free-space communication in the atmospheric transparency windows, and infrared countermeasures. InGaAs/AlInAs/InP quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) have been established as the semiconductor laser platform of choice for many mid-IR applications. Efficient utilization of QCL-based mid-IR PICs is largely contingent upon reliability, operating powers, and efficiency of the integrated laser sources as well as the ease of fabrication and integration of the low-loss passive and active photonic components. From these considerations, the development of mid-IR PICs on the InP platform appears to be particularly promising as the platform enables monolithic integration of high-power laser sources and waveguides with transparency in the entire mid-IR spectral region. We will report on our progress in developing InP-based mid-IR PICs, including demonstrations of low-loss passive mid-IR photonic components, such as waveguides, ring resonators, and wavelength multiplexers in InGaAs/InP and their integration with QCLs.
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