Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers
In this work, we present a multipurpose photonic integrated circuit capable of generating multiheterodyne complex Dual-Combs (DC) THz signals. Our work focuses on translating the functionality of an electro-optic tunable DC system into a photonic chip employing standard building blocks to ensure the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/21/6089 |
| _version_ | 1797549772415959040 |
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| author | Andrés Betancur-Pérez Pedro Martín-Mateos Cristina de Dios Pablo Acedo |
| author_facet | Andrés Betancur-Pérez Pedro Martín-Mateos Cristina de Dios Pablo Acedo |
| author_sort | Andrés Betancur-Pérez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, we present a multipurpose photonic integrated circuit capable of generating multiheterodyne complex Dual-Combs (DC) THz signals. Our work focuses on translating the functionality of an electro-optic tunable DC system into a photonic chip employing standard building blocks to ensure the scalability and cost efficiency of the integrated device. The architecture we analyze for integration is based on three stages: a seed comb, a mode selection stage and a DC stage. This final DC stage includes a frequency shifter, a key element to improve the final detection of the THz signals and obtain real-time operation. This investigation covers three key aspects: (1) a solution for comb line selection on GHz spaced combs using OIL or OPLL on photonic chips is studied and evaluated, (2) a simple and versatile scheme to produce a frequency shift using the double sideband suppressed carrier modulation technique and an asymmetric Mach Zehnder Interferometer to filter one of the sidebands is proposed, and (3) a multipurpose architecture that can offer a versatile effective device, moving from application-specific PICs to general-purpose PICs. Using the building blocks (BBs) available from an InP-based foundry, we obtained simulations that offer a high-quality Dual-Comb frequency shifted signal with a side mode suppression ratio around 21 dB, and 41 dB after photodetection with an intermediate frequency of 1 MHz. We tested our system to generate a Dual-Comb with 10 kHz of frequency spacing and an OOK modulation with 5 Gbps which can be down-converted to the THz range by a square law detector. It is also important to note that the presented architecture is multipurpose and can also be applied to THz communications. This design is a step to enable a commercial THz photonic chip for multiple applications such as THz spectroscopy, THz multispectral imaging and THz telecommunications and offers the possibility of being fabricated in a multi-project wafer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:19:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d524ca5da44540178a3c3d04c6021903 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:19:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-d524ca5da44540178a3c3d04c60219032023-11-20T18:38:34ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-10-012021608910.3390/s20216089Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb SpectrometersAndrés Betancur-Pérez0Pedro Martín-Mateos1Cristina de Dios2Pablo Acedo3Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, 050013 Medellín, ColombiaDepartment of Electronic Technology, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28915 Leganés, SpainDepartment of Electronic Technology, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28915 Leganés, SpainDepartment of Electronic Technology, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28915 Leganés, SpainIn this work, we present a multipurpose photonic integrated circuit capable of generating multiheterodyne complex Dual-Combs (DC) THz signals. Our work focuses on translating the functionality of an electro-optic tunable DC system into a photonic chip employing standard building blocks to ensure the scalability and cost efficiency of the integrated device. The architecture we analyze for integration is based on three stages: a seed comb, a mode selection stage and a DC stage. This final DC stage includes a frequency shifter, a key element to improve the final detection of the THz signals and obtain real-time operation. This investigation covers three key aspects: (1) a solution for comb line selection on GHz spaced combs using OIL or OPLL on photonic chips is studied and evaluated, (2) a simple and versatile scheme to produce a frequency shift using the double sideband suppressed carrier modulation technique and an asymmetric Mach Zehnder Interferometer to filter one of the sidebands is proposed, and (3) a multipurpose architecture that can offer a versatile effective device, moving from application-specific PICs to general-purpose PICs. Using the building blocks (BBs) available from an InP-based foundry, we obtained simulations that offer a high-quality Dual-Comb frequency shifted signal with a side mode suppression ratio around 21 dB, and 41 dB after photodetection with an intermediate frequency of 1 MHz. We tested our system to generate a Dual-Comb with 10 kHz of frequency spacing and an OOK modulation with 5 Gbps which can be down-converted to the THz range by a square law detector. It is also important to note that the presented architecture is multipurpose and can also be applied to THz communications. This design is a step to enable a commercial THz photonic chip for multiple applications such as THz spectroscopy, THz multispectral imaging and THz telecommunications and offers the possibility of being fabricated in a multi-project wafer.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/21/6089Dual-Combfrequency shifteroptical combsoptical injection lockingphotonic integrated circuitTHz spectroscopy |
| spellingShingle | Andrés Betancur-Pérez Pedro Martín-Mateos Cristina de Dios Pablo Acedo Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers Sensors Dual-Comb frequency shifter optical combs optical injection locking photonic integrated circuit THz spectroscopy |
| title | Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers |
| title_full | Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers |
| title_fullStr | Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers |
| title_short | Design of a Multipurpose Photonic Chip Architecture for THz Dual-Comb Spectrometers |
| title_sort | design of a multipurpose photonic chip architecture for thz dual comb spectrometers |
| topic | Dual-Comb frequency shifter optical combs optical injection locking photonic integrated circuit THz spectroscopy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/21/6089 |
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