Temperature-insensitive optical component

A hybrid optical source, comprising:

• an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
• a substrate;
• a buried-oxide layer disposed on the substrate;
• and
• a semiconductor layer disposed on the buried-oxide layer, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
• an optical waveguide, defined in the semiconductor layer and having a first edge and a second edge, configured to convey an optical signal;
• a temperature-compensation element, optically coupled to the optical waveguide at the second edge, configured to compensate for a temperature dependence of indexes of refraction of the optical waveguide;
• and
• a reflector, with a peak reflection wavelength having a reduced temperature sensitivity, defined in the semiconductor layer and optically coupled to the temperature-compensation element, configured to reflect a portion of the optical signal and transmit a remainder of the optical signal;
• and
• an optical amplifier, having a third edge and a fourth edge, configured to provide the optical signal, wherein the third edge is optically coupled to the first edge;
• wherein the optical amplifier comprises another reflector optically coupled to the fourth edge;
• and
• wherein the optical amplifier is disposed on another substrate that is different than the substrate.

A method for providing an optical signal having a wavelength, the method comprising:

• outputting an optical signal having a range of wavelengths from an optical amplifier;
• optically coupling the optical signal to an integrated circuit;
• conveying the optical signal in an optical waveguide in the integrated circuit;
• temperature-compensating an index of refraction of a temperature-compensation element in the integrated circuit, wherein the temperature-compensation element is included in a portion of the optical waveguide, and wherein the temperature-compensation element compensates for a temperature dependence of indexes of refraction of the optical amplifier and the optical waveguide;
• and
• reflecting a portion of the optical signal and transmitting a remainder of the optical signal after the temperature-compensation element, wherein the reflecting involves a reflector included in the optical waveguide, and wherein the reflector has a peak reflection wavelength with a reduced temperature sensitivity.