Photo-detectors integrated with resonant tunneling diodes

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2013-07, Vol.13 (7), p.9464-9482
Main Authors: Romeira, Bruno, Pessoa, Luis M, Salgado, Henrique M, Ironside, Charles N, Figueiredo, José M L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bandwidths
clock recovery
Communication
Diodes
double barrier quantum well structures
Fiber optics
microwave-photonics
optical injection locking
optoelectronic circuits
Oscillators
photo-detectors
Photonics
Quantum dots
Radio frequency
radio-over-fiber
Receivers & amplifiers
resonant tunneling diodes
Sensors
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1424-8220
1424-8220
DOI:10.3390/s130709464