Photonic integrated circuit on InP for millimeter wave generation

Indium phosphide and associated epitaxially grown alloys is a material system of choice to make photonic integrated circuits for microwave to terahertz signal generation, processing and detection. Fabrication of laser emitters, high speed electro-optical modulators, passive waveguides and couplers, optical filters and high speed photodetectors is well mastered for discrete devices. But monolithic integration of them while maintaining good performances is a big challenge. We have demonstrated a fully integrated tunable heterodyne source designed for the generation and modulation of sub-Terahertz signals. This device is to be used for high data-rate wireless transmissions. DFB lasers, SOA amplifiers, passive waveguides, beam combiners, electro-optic modulators and high speed photodetectors have been integrated on the same InP-based platform. Millimeter wave generation at up to 120 GHz based on heterodyning the optical tones from two integrated lasers in an also integrated high bandwidth photodetector has been obtained.