Nanomembrane Integrated Lasers on Silicon

ABSTRACT: The objective of this STTR Phase II proposal is to continue and complete the development of a commercially practical laser source on silicon (Si), with the demonstration of high performance ultra-compact electrically-pumped infrared laser prototype at 1550 nm band. Currently, silicon (Si)-based photonics are bottlenecked by the lack of an economical yet reliably integrated on-chip laser source. In this program, Semerane Inc. will work closely with University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Texas at Arlington to remove this most difficult bottleneck by developing the long demanded on-Si lasers, based on a low-temperature nanomembrane integration technology. The on-silicon infrared laser, namely membrane-reflector vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (MR-VCSEL), will exhibit high efficiency, ultra compactness (DBR-free), high reliability and wide spectral tunability. With the proposed laser structure to be directly built on Si, the highly desirable monolithic integration of the laser with Si CMOS will eventually be realized. The success of the proposed work will lead to the next-generation fully integrated electronics and photonics (EP) integrated circuits and will pave the way toward high-density 3D integrated EP systems. It is expected that the successful development of the on-Si laser through this STTR project will generate significant impact on the military and commercial communication and sensing applications. BENEFIT: The success of the development of economical yet reliable lasers on Si permits monolithic integration of sensing, spectroscopy, signal processing and computing all on a single chip. The single-chip photonics and electronics integration offers an affordable solution to the multi-functional platform with revolutionary influence in many areas of science, technology and everyday life. Such examples include high capacity low-cost data network, optical computing, flexible displays, solid state lighting, energy harvest, infrared night vision, image and gas sensing for medical, biological, environmental, military, and homeland security applications.