Systems Engineering for Silicon Photonic Devices

The increasing integration of digital information with our daily lives has led to the rise of big data, cloud computing, and the internet of things. The growth in these categories will lead to an exponential increase in the required capacity for data centers and high performance computation. Meanwhile, due to bottlenecks in data access caused by the limited energy and bandwidth scalability of electrical interconnects, computational speedup can no longer scale with demand. A better solution is necessary in order to increase computational performance and reduce the carbon footprint of our digital future. People have long thought of photonic interconnects, which can offer higher bandwidth, greater energy efficiency, and orders-of-magnitude distance scalability compared to electrical interconnects, as a solution to the data access bottleneck in chip, board, and datacenter scale networks. Over the past three decades we have seen impressive growth of photonic technology from theoretical predictions to high-performance commercially available devices. However, the dream of an all-optical interconnection network for use in CPU, Memory, and rack-to-rack datacenter interconnects is not yet realized. Many challenges and obstacles still have to be addressed. This work investigates these challenges and describe some of the ways to overcome them. First we will first examine the pattern sensitivity of microring modulators, which are likely to be found as the first element in an optical interconnect. My work will illustrate the advantage of using depletion mode modulators compared to injection mode modulators as the number of consecutive symbols in the data pattern increases. Next we will look at the problem of thermal initialization for microring demultiplexers near the output of the optical interconnect. My work demonstrates the fastest achieved initialization speed to-date for a microring based demultiplexer. I will also explore an thermal initialization and control method for microrings based on temperature measurement using a pn-junction. Finally, we will look at how to control and initialize microring and MZI based optical switch fabrics, which is the second element found in a optical interconnect. Work here will show the possibility of switching high-speed WDM datastreams through microring based switches, as well as methods to deal with the complexities inherent in control and initialization of high-radix switch topologies. Through these demonstrations I hope to show that the challenges facing optical interconnects, although very real, are surmountable using reasonable engineering efforts

Control Systems for Silicon Photonic Microring Devices

The continuing growth of microelectronics in speed, scale, and complexity has led to a looming bandwidth bottleneck for traditional electronic interconnects. This has precipitated the penetration of optical interconnects to smaller, more localized scales, in such applications as data centers, supercomputers, and access networks. For this next generation of optical interconnects, the silicon photonic platform has received wide attention for its ability to manifest, more economical, high-performance photonics. The high index contrast and CMOS compatibility of the silicon platform give the potential to intimately integrate small footprint, power-efficient, high-bandwidth photonic interconnects with existing high-performance CMOS microelectronics. Within the silicon photonic platform, traditional photonic elements can be manifested with smaller footprint and higher energy-efficiency. Additionally, the high index contrast allows the successful implementation of silicon microring-based devices, which push the limits on achievable footprint and energy-efficiency metrics. While laboratory demonstrations have testified to their capabilities as powerful modulators, switches, and filters, the commercial implementation of microring-based devices is impeded by their susceptibility to fabrication tolerances and their inherent temperature sensitivity. This work develops and demonstrates methods to resolve the aforementioned sensitivities of microring-based devices. Specifically, the use of integrated heaters to thermally tune and lock microring resonators to laser wavelengths, and the underlying control systems to enable such functionality. The first developed method utilizes power monitoring to show the successful thermal stabilization of a microring modulator under conditions that would normally render it inoperational. In a later demonstration, the photodetector used for power monitoring is co-integrated with the microring modulator, again demonstrating thermal stabilization of a microring modulator and validating the use of defect-enhanced silicon photodiodes for on-chip control systems. Secondly, a generalized method is developed that uses dithering signals to generate anti-symmetric error signals for use in stabilizing microring resonators. A control system utilizing a dithering signal is shown to successfully wavelength lock and thermally stabilize a microring resonator. Characterizations are performed on the robustness and speed of the wavelength locking process when using dithering signals. An FPGA implementation of the control system is used to scale to a WDM microring demultiplexer, demonstrating the simultaneous wavelength locking of multiple microring resonators. Additionally, the dithering technique is adopted to create control systems for microring-based switches, which have traditionally posed a challenging problem due to their multi-state configurations. The aforementioned control systems are rigorously tested for applications with high speed data and analyzed for power efficiency and scalability to show that they can successfully scale to commercial implementations and be the enabling factor in the commercial deployment of microring-based devices

Compensation for distribution of timing and reference signals over optical fibre networks for telescope arrays

Significant advancements and developments have been made in optical frequency standards, in recent years. In order to verify the accuracy and preciseness of the disseminated RF signal, it is essential to compare its stability with the standards provided in literature as well as by metrology institutes. However, conventional frequency comparison techniques via satellites have extremely inferior stability qualities. As a result, the need for an alternative ultra-high precision RF transfer method presented itself. Highly accurate and precise frequency dissemination across optical fiber has proved a leading contender and a possible solution. When compared to conventional data transfer media, optical fiber has proven to be more superior and yields lower transmission errors and is immune to radio frequency interference. A further quality of optical fibre is that its transmission distance can be extended to greater degree than the traditional coaxial cable due to its low loss property. This thesis deals with the compensation of phase noise in single mode optical fibre. Phase noise degrades the performance and stability of the RF signal as well as the optical carrier frequency across long-haul optical networks. This work begins by experimentally demonstrating a unique and novel way for measuring the round-trip optical fibre latency times. The technique is based on all optical wavelength conversion using a stable PPS injection signal. The result highlighted the importance for active phase error compensation along a fibre link. Various computer simulations were used to study the influence of temperature fluctuation on the optical fibre. The first ever error signals generated at NMU was experimentally demonstrated. Results illustrated that, by minimizing the error voltage the phase difference between the transmitted and reference signals were reduced to zero. Performance analysis testing of the VCSEL phase correction actuator showed that majority of the dither iterations that induced the phase compensation took approximately 0.15 s. Residual frequency instabilities of 3.39791 x 10-12 at 1 s and 8.14848 x 10-12 at 103 s was measured when the 26 km G.655 fibre link was running freely. Experimental results further showed that the relative frequency stabilities measured at 1 s and 103 s were 4.43902 x 10-12 and 1.62055 x 10-13 during active compensation, respectively. The novel work presented in this thesis is exciting since the VCSEL is used as the optical source as well as the phase correction actuator. The benefits of such a device is that is reduces system costs and complexities

Photonic RF signal processors

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the emerging possibilities of processing radiofrequency (RF) or microwave signals in optical domain, which will be a key technology to implement next-generation mobile communication systems and future optical networks. Research activities include design and modelling of novel photonic architectures for processing and filtering of RF, microwave and millimeter wave signals of the above mentioned applications. Investigations especially focus on two basic functions and critical requirements in advanced RF systems, namely: • Interference mitigation and high Q tunable filters. • Arbitrary filter transfer function generation. The thesis begins with a review on several state-of-the-art architectures of in-fiber RF signal processing and related key optical technologies. The unique capabilities offered by in-fiber RF signal processors for processing ultra wide-band, high-frequency signals directly in optical domain make them attractive options for applications in optical networks and wide-band microwave signal processing. However, the principal drawbacks which have been demonstrated so far in the in-fiber RF signal processors arc their inflexible or expensive schemes to set tap weights and time delay. Laser coherence effects also limit sampling frequency and introduce additional phase-induced intensity noise

High Bit Rate Wireless and Fiber-Based Terahertz Communication

RÉSUMÉ Dans le spectre électromagnétique, la bande des térahertz s’étend de 100 GHz à 10 THz (longueurs d’onde de 3 mm à 30 μm). Des décennies auparavant, le spectre des THz était connu sous le nom de « gap térahertz » en raison de l’indisponibilité de sources et détecteurs efficaces à ces fréquences. Depuis quelques années, la science a évolué pour faire migrer la technologie THz des laboratoires aux produits commerciaux. Il existe plusieurs applications des ondes THz en imagerie, spectroscopie et communications. Dans cette thèse, nous nous intéressons aux communications THz à travers deux objectifs. Le premier objectif est de développer une source THz de haute performance dédiée aux communications et basée sur les technologies optiques avec des produits commerciaux uniquement. Le second objectif est de démontrer l’utilisation de fibres optiques afin de renforcer la robustesse des communications THz sans fil. Nous débutons cette thèse avec une revue de la littérature scientifique sur le sujet de la communications THz sans fil et filaire. D’abord, nous discutons des deux méthodes communément utilisées (électronique et optique) pour démontrer des liens de communications THz avec leurs avantages et inconvénients. Nous présentons par la suite la possibilité d’utiliser un système de spectroscopie THz pour des applications en communications avec des modifications mineures au montage. Nous présentons ensuite plusieurs applications gourmandes en bande passante qui pourraient bénéficier du spectre THz, incluant la diffusion en continu (streaming) de flux vidéo aux résolutions HD et 4K non compressés. Ensuite, nous discutons de la motivation d’utiliser de longues fibres THz et notamment du fait qu’elles ne sont pas destinées à remplacer les fibres optiques conventionnelles de l’infrarouge, mais plutôt à augmenter la robustesse des liens THz sans fil. En particulier, les fibres THz peuvent être utilisées pour garantir le lien de communication dans des environnements géométriques complexes ou difficile à atteindre, ainsi que pour immuniser le lien THz aux attaques de sécurité. Plusieurs designs de fibres et guides d’onde précédemment démontrées dans la littérature sont discutés avec, entre autres, leurs méthodes de fabrication respectives. Nous discutons ensuite de la possibilité d’utiliser un simple guide d’onde diélectrique et sous-longueur d’onde pour transmettre l’information à un débit de l’ordre de plusieurs Gbps sur une distance de quelques mètres.----------ABSTRACT The Terahertz (THz) spectral range spans from 100 GHz to 10 THz (wavelength: 3 mm to 30 μm) in the electromagnetic spectrum. Decades ago, the THz spectral range is often named as ‘THz gap’ due to the non-availability of efficient THz sources and detectors. In the recent years, the science has evolved in bringing the THz technology from lab scale to commercial products. There are several potential applications of THz frequency band such as imaging, spectroscopy and communication. In this thesis, we focus on THz communications by addressing two objectives. The first objective is to develop a high-performance photonics-based THz communication system using all commercially available components. The second objective is to demonstrate the THz-fiber based communications, which can be used to increase the reliability of THz wireless links. We begin this thesis with a scientific literature review on the subject of THz wireless and fiber-based communications. First, the two different methodologies (all electronics based and photonics-based THz system) that is commonly used in the demonstration of THz communications is discussed along with their advantages and challenges. We then present the flexibility of photonics-based THz system where it is possible to switch it with minor modifications for THz spectroscopic studies and THz communication applications. Several bandwidth hungry applications that demands the use of THz spectrum for next generation communications is detailed. This includes the streaming of uncompressed HD/4K and beyond high-resolution videos, where the THz spectrum can be beneficial. Next, the motivation of using long THz fibers is discussed and we convince the readers that the THz fibers are not meant to replace the fibers in the optical-infrared region but to increase the reliability of THz wireless links. Particularly, the THz fibers can be used to provide connectivity in complex geometrical environments, secure communications and signal delivery to hard-to-reach areas. Several novel fiber/waveguide designs along with their fabrication technologies from the literature are presented. We then show that a simple solid core dielectric subwavelength fiber can be used to transmit the information in the order of several Gbps to a distance of a few meters

Advanced performance monitoring in all-optical networks.

This thesis investigates advanced optical performance monitoring approaches for future all-optical networks using the synchronous sampling technique. This allows for improved signal quality estimation, fault management and resource allocation through improved control of transmission at the physical layer level. Because of the increased transparency in next generation networks, it is not possible to verify the quality of the signal at each node because of the limited number of optical-electrical-optical conversions, and therefore new non-intrusive mechanisms to achieve signal quality monitoring are needed. The synchronous sampling technique can be deployed to estimate the bit error rate, considered an important quality measure, and hence can be utilised to certify service level agreements between operators and customers. This method also has fault identification capabilities by analysing the shapes of the obtained histograms. Each impairment affects the histogram in a specific way, giving it a unique shape that can be used for root cause analysis. However, chromatic dispersion and polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) can have similar signatures on the histograms obtained at decision times. A novel technique to unambiguously discriminate between these two sources of degradation is proposed in this work. It consists of varying the decision times so that sampling also occurs at both edges of the eye diagram. This approach is referred to as three-section eye sampling technique. In addition, it is shown that this method can be used to accurately assess first order polarisation mode dispersion and can simultaneously estimate the differential group delay (DGD) and the power splitting ratio between the two states of polarisation. Since synchronous sampling is employed, the effect of PMD on the sampling times is also investigated. For the first time, closed form relationship between the shift in sampling time, the DGD and the power splitting ratio between the polarisation states is obtained. Three types of high-Q filter based clock recovery circuits are considered: without pre-processing circuits that can be used for RZ format and with an edge detector or a squarer pre-processing circuits suitable for NRZ format. Moreover, this technique can be used to monitor chromatic dispersion and a large monitoring range of more than 1750ps/nm is experimentally demonstrated at 10Gbit/s. Since it can monitor PMD and dispersion, this method can be deployed to control dynamic PMD or dispersion compensators. Furthermore, this technique offers easy and quick inline eye mask testing and timing jitter assessment

Spin-Photon Entanglement and Quantum Optics with Single Quantum Dots.

InAs quantum dots (QDs) can be used as optically coupled quantum storage devices for quantum information applications. The QD can be charged with a single electron, where the spin state (up or down) provides a long lived quantum bit (qubit). The QD's optically excited states are used to initialize, manipulate, and read out the electron spin state with laser pulses. However, most practical quantum information applications require many interacting qubits, forming a quantum network. Since QDs are based on semiconductor technology, and are compatible with standard nano-fabrication processing, there is promise that they can provide a solid state platform where a scalable quantum information architecture is realizable. We focus on scaling the QD system to multiple qubits using intermediate spin-photon entangled states. In this work, experimental and theoretical techniques are developed to study the QD-light matter interaction at the single photon level. Resonance fluorescence from a single QD is experimentally realized, and the single photon nature of the scattered radiation is verified through intensity correlation experiments. Transient fluorescence measurements on resonantly excited QDs are performed using time correlated single photon counting techniques to measure the excited state lifetime. High speed electro-optic modulators are used to time gate narrow bandwidth lasers, so that a QD can be driven under step-wise excitation, allowing for the direct observation of time-dependent optical Rabi oscillations. From these measurements, we are able to extract a decoherence rate which is consistent with the lifetime limit, indicating that pure dephasing is negligible in this system. These techniques are applied to the QD spin system to demonstrate a spin-photon entangled state, by performing correlation measurements on the spin and photon state in two bases. A lower bound on the entanglement fidelity of 0.59(4) is achieved, which exceeds the classical limit of 0.5 by more than two standard deviations. The entanglement fidelity is limited primarily by the finite timing resolution of available single photon detectors. Taking this into account, we achieve 84% of the apparatus limited fidelity. These spin-entangled photons can be used to mediate entanglement between distant QD spins, providing the basis of an optically coupled QD spin network.PhDPhysicsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/99785/1/jschaibl_1.pd