Imec

Universiteit Gent

Other

Imec Vzw

Universiteit Gent, a Belgium University

Geert Morthier

Roeland Baets

Günther Roelkens

Dries Van Thourhout

Roel Baets

Yannick De Koninck

Koen Huybrechts

Example embodiments relate to lasers that include loop resonators. One example laser includes a loop resonator forming a closed loop light path. The loop resonator includes an optical gain medium configured to lase. The loop resonator is configured to, during lasing, present a pair of modes: a mode of light propagating in a clockwise direction in the closed loop light path of the loop resonator (termed CW mode) and a mode of light propagating in a counter-clockwise direction in the closed loop light path of the loop resonator (termed CCW mode). The laser also includes a first light output configured to output laser light from the laser. Additionally, the laser includes an optical power modulating unit. The optical power modulation unit is configured to modulate an optical power of the CW mode of the loop resonator and an optical power of the CCW mode of the loop resonator.

Laser comprising a loop resonator

A hybrid laser for generating radiation includes an optical passive material and an optical active material. The laser includes a first optical waveguide and optical laser components with reflectors in the optical passive material. The first optical waveguide is adapted for coupling out radiation from the hybrid laser. The laser also includes a second optical waveguide defined in the optical active material. The optical laser components include reflectors defining a cavity and furthermore are adapted for providing laser cavity confinement in the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide. The second optical waveguide thereby is positioned at least partly over the first optical waveguide so that an evanescent coupling interface is defined between the second optical waveguide and the first optical waveguide and the evanescent coupling interface is positioned within the laser cavity.

Laser light coupling into SOI CMOS photonic integrated circuit

A method is provided for all-optical regeneration of intensity modulated optical signals. A DFB laser diode is selected such that it has a gain bandwidth comprising the signal wavelength, the signal wavelength being outside the stopband of the DFB laser diode. Furthermore, the DFB laser diode is selected such that it can have a bistable amplification characteristic for the signal wavelength showing a hysteresis with an ascending branch and a descending branch, the ascending branch located at a higher input power level than the descending branch. The DFB laser diode is driven such that it operates in the bistable amplification regime, the descending branch of the hysteresis curve located at an input power level above the lower power level of the optical signal pulses and the ascending branch of the hysteresis curve located at an input power level below the upper power level of the optical signal pulses.

All-optical 2R regeneration

A widely tunable laser structure with at least two different sampled or superstructure gratings is provided. The widely tunable laser only requires as much tuning currents as gratings. In the case of two gratings, two tuning currents, instead of 3 tuning currents in a typical laser, are needed. Alternatively, the laser structure can be denoted a sampled or superstructure grating tunable laser with wide tunability characteristics, with a limited amount of needed tuning parameters, e.g., two currents.

Widely tunable twin guide laser structure

Cross-connect device and a method for switching using space switching and grouping of channels

An optical decision circuit, based on gain clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers, is disclosed. This optical decision circuit can be used for 2R signal regeneration in optical communication systems. By adding a clock signal to the input of said optical decision circuit, said circuit is also suited for 3R regeneration. Such a circuit can easily be implemented as an integrated circuit or an OEIC.

Growing community of inventors

Ghent, Belgium

Geert Morthier