DBR laser with improved thermal tuning efficiency
AssigneeFinisar Corporation
InventorsYasuhiro Matsui, Kevin J. McCallion, Parviz Tayebati
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Abstract
A distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) includes a base substrate and a gain medium formed on the base substrate. A waveguide positioned above the base substrate in optical communication with the gain medium and defines a gap extending between the base substrate and the waveguide along a substantial portion of the length thereof. The waveguide having a grating formed therein. A heating element is in thermal contact with the waveguide and electrically coupled to a controller electrically configured to adjust optical properties of the waveguide by controlling power supplied to the heating element.
Claims14
A laser comprising:
- a base substrate comprising a semiconductor material;
- a gain medium embedded in the base substrate;
- a waveguide positioned above the base substrate in optical communication with the gain medium and defining a gap extending between the base substrate and the waveguide along a substantial portion of the length thereof, the waveguide having a grating formed there on;
- pillars comprising a thermal insulative semiconductor material extending between the waveguide and the base substrate;
- at least one heating element in thermal contact with the waveguide;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the at least one heating element and configured to adjust optical properties of the waveguide by controlling power supplied to the at least one heating element.
A laser comprising:
- a base substrate comprising a semiconductor substrate;
- a gain medium formed on the base substrate;
- a raised substrate having a first end and a second end and having a top surface, bottom surface, and lateral surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first end located adjacent the gain medium, the lower surface and base substrate defining a gap along a majority of a distance between the first and second ends, the top and lateral surfaces being exposed.
- a waveguide embedded in the raised substrate in optical communication with the gain medium, the waveguide having a reflector formed therein;
- at least one heating element in thermal contact with the waveguide;
- a plurality of pillars comprising an insulative semiconductor material extending between the base substrate and the raised substrate, the at least one pillars having a combined width parallel to a line extending between the first and second ends that is less than 90 percent of a length of the raised substrate between the first and second ends;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the at least one heating element and configured to adjust optical properties of the waveguide by controlling power supplied to the at least one heating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.