Narrow linewidth III-V-on-SiN laser with extended frequency chirp capability based on micro-transfer printing for high resolution distributed acoustic sensing

Abstract

A laser source that is both narrow-linewidth and frequency-agile is essential for FMCW applications, such as LIDAR or distributed optical fiber sensing (DOFS). In this work, we present the design and characterization of a laser architecture based on the heterogeneous integration of III-V gain material on a SiN photonic circuit that meets these specifications. By incorporating a dual-ring resonator mirror in the cavity, we achieved a linewidth of 2.4 kHz and a large frequency excursion. We obtained chirps with an amplitude of 20 GHz, with residual nonlinearities of less than 1%. A preliminary DOFS measurement was carried out, demonstrating the excellent performance of the laser.