SBIR Phase I: Nano-Patterned, Phase Shift Insensitive, 2-Dimensional Photonic Lattice Outcoupler for Grating Surface Emitting Lasers

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will create a manufacturing process for phase-shift insensitive, 2-dimensional (2-D) photonic lattice outcoupler for grating-outcoupled surface-emitting (GSE) lasers. Photonic lattice structures hold great promise for the realization of integrated photonic circuits. The photonic lattice laterally shifted nanopattern proposed here is an approach to make the coupler (power and field) invariant to the phase of the optical signal it must couple. However, for this potential to be fully realized, it is necessary to reduce the complexity of fabrication of making these structures, such that rapid and inexpensive manufacturing of GSE lasers can be achieved. Combining the desirable traits of both edge emitting lasers (high power, reliable material, low voltage, use of proven) and vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (low cost, wafer level testing, simple packaging, high integration ability), this work will have broad applications in telecommunications, information processing and data communications. A broader impact will be eventual realization of very high data rates (5 Gbps up to 160 Gbps) at very low cost, and the elimination of barriers to deploying fiber to the desktop and to the home, enabling ultra high BW connections for business and entertainment.