Generic components for long-wavelength applications

In recent years, the Photonics industry has evidenced a great interest for going toward Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) operating at wavelengths beyond 1.55 µm. The COBRA research group at the University of Eindhoven has initiated development of a generic integration platform functioning at wavelengths up to 2.1 µm. At present, our research is focused on Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs), reversely biased phase shifters, passive waveguides and dense Spot-Size Convertor (SSC) arrays as building blocks for such a platform. Here we present results about several active materials tested in a Fabry-Pérot structure and lasing at wavelengths as long as 2.06 µm. In addition, some investigations are performed for lowering the loss level in passive waveguides via local Zinc diffusion restricted to the active areas.