Photo-detectors integrated with resonant tunneling diodes

Romeira, Bruno; Pessoa, Luis M.; Salgado, Henrique M.; Ironside, Charles N.; Figueiredo, José M. L.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/18406

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Authors

Figueiredo, José M. L.

Abstract(s)

We report on photo-detectors consisting of an optical waveguide that incorporates a resonant tunneling diode (RTD). Operating at wavelengths around 1.55 μm in the optical communications C band we achieve maximum sensitivities of around 0.29 A/W which is dependent on the bias voltage. This is due to the nature of RTD nonlinear current-voltage characteristic that has a negative differential resistance (NDR) region. The resonant tunneling diode photo-detector (RTD-PD) can be operated in either non-oscillating or oscillating regimes depending on the bias voltage quiescent point. The oscillating regime is apparent when the RTD-PD is biased in the NDR region giving rise to electrical gain and microwave self-sustained oscillations Taking advantage of the RTD’s NDR distinctive characteristics, we demonstrate efficient detection of gigahertz (GHz) modulated optical carriers and optical control of a RTD GHz oscillator. RTD-PD based devices can have applications in generation and optical control of GHz low-phase noise oscillators, clock recovery systems, and fiber optic enabled radio frequency communication systems.

Keywords

Double barrier quantum well structure Clock recovery Microwave-photonics Optical injection locking Optoelectronic circuits Oscillators Photo-detectors Radio-over-fiber Resonant tunneling diodes