Light: Science & Applications (Oct 2022)

Electrically pumped quantum-dot lasers grown on 300 mm patterned Si photonic wafers

  • Chen Shang,
  • Kaiyin Feng,
  • Eamonn T. Hughes,
  • Andrew Clark,
  • Mukul Debnath,
  • Rosalyn Koscica,
  • Gerald Leake,
  • Joshua Herman,
  • David Harame,
  • Peter Ludewig,
  • Yating Wan,
  • John E. Bowers

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-022-00982-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Monolithic integration of quantum dot (QD) gain materials onto Si photonic platforms via direct epitaxial growth is a promising solution for on-chip light sources. Recent developments have demonstrated superior device reliability in blanket hetero-epitaxy of III–V devices on Si at elevated temperatures. Yet, thick, defect management epi designs prevent vertical light coupling from the gain region to the Si-on-Insulator waveguides. Here, we demonstrate the first electrically pumped QD lasers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a 300 mm patterned (001) Si wafer with a butt-coupled configuration. Unique growth and fabrication challenges imposed by the template architecture have been resolved, contributing to continuous wave lasing to 60 °C and a maximum double-side output power of 126.6 mW at 20 °C with a double-side wall-plug efficiency of 8.6%. The potential for robust on-chip laser operation and efficient low-loss light coupling to Si photonic circuits makes this heteroepitaxial integration platform on Si promising for scalable and low-cost mass production.