Fivefold increased power handling in waveguide UTC-PDs using dual-injection shared CPW PD-arrays

Jasper de Graaf (Corresponding author), P.J. (René) van Veldhoven, Kevin A. Williams, Yuqing Jiao

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Abstract

This work presents two circuit-based solutions to enhance the power handling capabilities of waveguide-integrated uni-travelling carrier photodetectors (WG-UTC-PDs). Compared to a baseline WG-UTC-PD, these solutions achieve a fivefold increase in photocurrent before thermal breakdown. First, dual-injection improves the optical power distribution within a baseline WG-UTC-PD, raising the photocurrent threshold before thermal breakdown. Second, an array of four optically parallel WG-UTC-PDs, electrically connected to a single coplanar waveguide (CPW) line, further increases the maximum photocurrent by distributing the input optical power across multiple PDs. The design omits a termination resistor, as the arrays do not rely on a traveling wave configuration, maximizing photocurrent without a 50% reduction of bandwidth. Both 4-PD single-injection and dual-injection arrays were designed, fabricated, and characterized. Compared to a baseline UTC-PD, with a maximum photocurrent of 1.8 mA at a 3 dB bandwidth of 55 GHz, the 4-PD single-injection circuit achieved 5.1 mA at 43 GHz. The dual-injection array further increased the photocurrent to 9.2 mA at a bandwidth of 35 GHz. Electrical reflection measurements confirmed the negative effects of CPW losses on RF performance. These power handling improvements enable compact, high-power integrated solutions for microwave photonics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41201-41212
Number of pages12
JournalOptics Express
Volume32
Issue number23
Early online date29 Oct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Nov 2024

Funding

Institute of Design, Optoelectronics and Sensing (IDEAS) (Project INTENSE). The authors acknowledge NanoLab@TU/e for the use of the cleanroom facilities.

Keywords

  • UTC-PD, nanophotonics, power handling, PIC

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