Silicon-Wire Waveguide Based External Cavity Laser for Milliwatt-Order Output Power and Temperature Control Free Operation with Silicon Ring Modulator

We report a novel hybrid laser based on a silicon-wire external cavity filter. We characterize the hybrid silicon laser from the viewpoint of high output extraction efficiency and temperature control free operation with a silicon microring resonator. First, it is experimentally verified that output extraction efficiency of the laser is significantly improved by locating an optical coupler within the laser cavity. As a result, we show mW-order output power and wall-plug efficiency of similar to 0.9%. In addition, we demonstrate that the operating window of the silicon microring modulator is adaptable to the oscillation wavelength of the hybrid silicon laser in regard to temperature change of a silicon substrate from 25 to 55 degrees C. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics