Unipolar quantum optoelectronics for high speed direct modulation and transmission in 8–14 µm atmospheric window
The large mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region, ranging from 2.5 µm to 25 µm, has remained under-exploited in the electromagnetic spectrum, primarily due to the absence of viable transceiver technologies. Notably, the 8-14 µm long-wave infrared (LWIR) atmospheric transmission window is particularly suitable for free-space optical (FSO) communication, owing to its combination of low atmospheric propagation loss and relatively high resilience to turbulence and other atmospheric disturbances. Here, we demonstrate a direct modulation and direct detection LWIR FSO communication system at 9.1 µm wavelength based on unipolar quantum optoelectronic devices with a unprecedented net bitrate exceeding 55 Gbit s<sup>-1</sup>. A directly modulated distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB-QCL) with high modulation efficiency and improved RF-design was used as a transmitter while two high speed detectors utilizing meta-materials to enhance their responsivity are employed as receivers; a quantum cascade detector (QCD) and a quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP). We investigate system tradeoffs and constraints, and indicate pathways forward for this technology beyond 100 Gbit s<sup>-1</sup> communication.
Authors
- Toms Salgals (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9465-0164)
- Armands Ostrovskis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7538-4924)
- Thomas Bonazzi
- Xianbin Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0063-4460)
- Richard Schatz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3056-4678)
- Oskars Ozoliņš (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9839-7488)
- Konstantinos Pantzas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2297-3247)
- Hamza Dely (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0457-5384)
- Carlo Sirtori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1817-4554)
- Mahdieh Joharifar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3822-1082)
- I. Sagnes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8068-6599)
- Lauréline Durupt
- Yan‐Ting Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8545-6546)
- Vjačeslavs Bobrovs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5156-5162)
- Angela Vasanelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1945-2261)
- Djamal Gacemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0334-1815)
- Sandis Spolītis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0571-6409)
- Xiaodan Pang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4906-1704)
- G. Maisons (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-6220)
- Lu Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9567-155X)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Riga Technical University (LV)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (SE)
- École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR)
- Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (FR)
- École Normale Supérieure (BI)
- Centre de Physique Théorique (FR)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-09-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52053-7
- Citations
- 22
- Primary Topic
- Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.30
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- VINNOVA
- Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme