In integrated photonics, achieving high-coherence parallelization is a topic that has garnered significant interest. A new study presents a novel approach to accomplishing this feat. The researchers leverage self-injection locked microcombs to injection lock distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. This ingenious strategy paves the way for creating high-coherence channels boasting linewidths as low as 10 Hz and a remarkable power exceeding 20 dBm. Furthermore, the devised system achieves an impressive overall electrical-to-optical efficiency of 19%, standing toe-to-toe with the efficiency of cutting-edge semiconductor lasers. This study proposes a groundbreaking method for integrating numerous lasers into a singular, high-performance device. This device outshines conventional lasers, including superior coherence, minimized linewidth, and amplified power. Notably, it maintains a comparable electrical-to-optical efficiency, a crucial metric gauges how effectively the device converts electrical signals into light.
The ramifications of this innovative strategy are far-reaching. It could potentially revolutionize numerous applications within the domains of optics and photonics. For instance, it holds immense promise for developing next-generation optical communication systems, sensors, and medical devices.
This work presents a significant leap forward in integrated photonics, offering a compelling approach to high-coherence parallelization. By leveraging self-injection locked microcombs, the researchers have successfully unlocked the door to high-performance lasers with exceptional coherence, low linewidth, and substantial power output while maintaining remarkable electrical-to-optical efficiency. This paves the way for developing novel photonic devices with the potential to transform various sectors.
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