Integrated photonic apparatus and method

Abstract

A fully integrated photonic coherent microwave generator includes an external laser cavity on a suitable material waveguide platform (e.g., LiNbO3) operationally integrated with a III-V gain element. Operational components include a tunable high-Q resonator (e.g., LiNbO3 microresonator) and one or more end mirrors to form an integrated semiconductor external-cavity laser. Operationally coupled electrical components enable coherent microwave and phase-locked laser comb outputs as follows. An optical detector converts the beating of generated laser-comb modes into microwaves with a fundamental frequency equal to the free-spectral range fR of the microresonator. The external laser cavity enables high-speed electro-optic modulation of laser modes directly inside the laser cavity. Phase locking of the lasing modes is accomplished via electro-optic modulation and electro-optic comb generation directly inside the laser cavity. Highly coherent microwaves are generated via phase-locked comb-like lasing modes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.