Fully integrated InP Heterodyne millimeter wave source for high data rate transmission

A fully integrated tunable heterodyne source designed for the generation and modulation of sub-Terahertz signals is demonstrated. This device is to be used for high data-rate wireless transmissions. DFB lasers, SOA amplifiers, passive waveguides, beam combiners, electro-optic modulators and high speed photodetectors have been integrated on the same InPbased platform. Millimeter wave generation at up to 105 GHz based on heterodyning the optical tones from two integrated lasers in an also integrated high bandwidth photodetector has been demonstrated. Data modulation on the millimeter wave carrier is demonstrated based on an also integrated electrooptical modulator. Keywords— millimeter wave generation; semiconductor lasers; photonic integrated circuits