Transfer-printed quantum-dot nanolasers on a silicon photonic circuit

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first integration of quantum-dot nanolasers onto silicon photonic circuits using transfer-printing, enabling compact, waveguide-coupled light sources suitable for advanced optical communication applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel transfer-printing method for integrating QD nanolasers onto silicon photonics, achieving lasing and waveguide coupling in a simple, scalable manner.

Findings

Successful demonstration of lasing in transferred QD nanolasers

Integration of multiple nanolasers on a single silicon waveguide

Potential for wavelength division multiplexing applications

Abstract

Quantum-dot (QD) nanolasers integrated on a silicon photonic circuit are demonstrated for the first time. QD nanolasers based on one-dimensional photonic crystal nanocavities containing InAs/GaAs QDs are integrated on CMOS-processed silicon waveguides cladded by silicon dioxide. We employed transfer-printing, whereby the three-dimensional stack of photonic nanostructures is assembled in a simple pick-and-place manner. Lasing operation and waveguide-coupling of an assembled single nanolaser are confirmed through micro-photoluminescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, by repetitive transfer-printing, two QD nanolasers integrated onto a single silicon waveguide are demonstrated, opening a path to develop compact light sources potentially applicable for wavelength division multiplexing.