title: Experimental demonstration of microring-based optical pulse train generator.
abstract: Recently, we proposed the concept of a microring-based optical pulse train generator, which uses a series of microrings coupled to a waveguide and time-interleaves a trigger pulse propagating on this waveguide to generate an optical pulse train. When each ring is electrically modulated, this electronic-photonic integrated circuit (EPIC) can be used for optical arbitrary waveform generation (OAWG) and ultrafast electro-optic (EO) modulation. This paper presents the proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of this technique with two four-stage chip prototypes fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Device fabrication and testing of the chip prototypes are presented. The measurement results show that from a 20-ps-wide input trigger pulse, two circuits generate four sequential pulses at the output with a constant stage delay of 55 ps and 30 ps respectively, which translate into pulse repetition rates of 18 GHz and 33 GHz.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu