Researchers demonstrate broad range, cost-effective infrared lasers for photonic, medical applications

Dr. Mansour Mortazavi

Dr. Wei Du

Dr. Seyed Ghetmiri

The electronics industry has driven the digital revolution for an unprecedented success based on Si. As a result, there has been a tremendous effort to broaden the reach of Si technology to build integrated optic and photonic circuits. Supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and National Science Foundation (NSF), researchers from a multi-institutional team have demonstrated infrared lasers made of the inexpensive germanium tin (GeSn) alloy grown on silicon (Si) substrates. The laser operation wavelength coverage is from 2 to 3 micron, with the maximum operating temperature reaching 180 Kelvin.^1,2

Although great success has been made on Si-based waveguides, modulators, and photodetectors, a low-cost integrated light source on silicon with high efficiency and reliability remains missing and is seen as the most challenging task to form a complete set of Si photonic components.

In this work, the research team demonstrated the first set of optically pumped GeSn edge-emitting lasers that covers an unprecedented broad wavelength range from 2 to 3 micron and higher efficiency than all previous reports. This work is an essential step towards obtaining high performance and cost-effective Si-based monolithic integrated mid-infrared laser sources.

The technology will improve not only lasers, but also detectors in a wide range of applications such as lasers for medical use, infrared detections, and in optical communications. The development of this technology will undoubtedly lead to opportunities for commercialization of the technical innovations to significantly contribute Arkansas economic development.

The research team includes Drs. Mansour Mortazavi, Wei Du, and Seyed Amir Ghetmiri from the Department of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in collaboration with the University of Arkansas Fayetteville³, researchers at ASM, Dartmouth College, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Arktonics LLC.

For more information, contact Dr. Mansour Mortazavi at (870) 575-8789 or mortazavim@uapb.edu.