Optical Arbitrary Waveform Generator On a Monolithic InP Chip with Continuously Extendable Duration based on Novel Ultra-High-Resolution Diffraction G

The proposed project will undertake the research, design, and development of key concepts and technologies for extended duration optical arbitrary waveform generator (OAWG) over large bandwidth, based on a monolithically integrated high-speed optoelectronic chip with a unique integrated ultra-high-resolution super-compact grating (SCG), referred to as SCG based high-speed optical arbitrary waveform generator (SCG-HS-OAWG) chip. The proposed SCG-HS-OAWG is capable of large bandwidth (100GHz-1THz or 10-1 picosecond pulses) and continuously extendable duration without time aperture limit for the arbitrary waveform. Phase I will focus on systematic design and feasibility studies of the proposed SCG based OAWG to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed technology. The feasibility will lay the ground work for Phase II. The proposed SCG-HS-OAWG chip has the following advantages: (1) It provides a monolithically integrated chip with spectral channel decomposition, channel’s amplitude and phase modulations, and spectral re-composition functionalities all integrated on a mm-size or cm-size Indium Phosphide (InP) chip; (2) It provides an OAWG with high modulation speed of 2.5G initially with possible extension to 10GHz or 40GHz later; (3) It will be fully packaged in a low-profile ruggedized module with fiber input/output pigtails enabling it to operate in harsh environment over a wide temperature range.