Heterogeneous integration of infrared single mode lasers with photonic integrated circuits

Our team consisting of Pendar Technologies, MIT campus, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, proposes to develop a mid-infrared (MIR) laser platform based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and relevant to critical NASA gas sensing instruments based on tunable laser spectroscopy (TLS). As demonstrated by the Mars Curiosity rover, TLS sensors play a unique role for planetary exploration but are currently too large. Our Phase I goals will be to demonstrate the feasibility of a miniaturized optical source with multiple MIR lasers meeting the requirements of a TLS instrument for the exploration of Uranus’s atmosphere. At the core of the proposed development is the hybrid integration of multiple III-V DFB lasers onto a Germanium on Silicon (GOS) PIC. The benefits of our approach include not only a drastic reduction of the laser transmitter size (>10x) but also a clear path for its ruggedization for space flights. Additionally, since all the laser elements are mounted on the same PIC platform, a single thermal management solution is needed, significantly reducing the SWaP of the transmitter.