Hybrid InP and SiN integration of an octave-spanning frequency comb

Published

February 2, 2021

Author(s)

Travis Briles, Su P. Yu, Lin Chang, Chao Xiang, Joel Guo, David Kinghorn, Gregory Moille, Kartik Srinivasan, John E. Bowers, Scott Papp

Abstract

Implementing optical-frequency combs with integrated photonics will enable wider use of precision timing signals. Here, we explore the generation of an octave-span, Kerr-microresonator frequency comb, using hybrid integration of an InP distributed-feedback laser and a SiN photonic-integrated circuit. We demonstrate electrically pumped and fiber-packaged prototype systems, enabled by self-injection locking. This direct integration of a laser and a microresonator circuit without previously used intervening elements, like optical modulators and isolators, necessitates understanding self-injection-locking dynamics with octave-span Kerr solitons. In particular, system architectures must adjust to the strong coupling of microresonator back-scattering and laser-microresonator frequency detuning that we uncover here. Our work illustrates critical considerations towards realizing a self-referenced frequency comb with integrated photonics.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters Photonics

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0035452

Local Download

Keywords

Frequency comb, microresonator, photonic integration, soliton, self-injection locking

Citation

Briles, T. , Yu, S. , Chang, L. , Xiang, C. , Guo, J. , Kinghorn, D. , Moille, G. , Srinivasan, K. , Bowers, J. and Papp, S. (2021), Hybrid InP and SiN integration of an octave-spanning frequency comb, Applied Physics Letters Photonics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0035452, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=931568 (Accessed October 24, 2025)