title: Mode-evolution-based coupler for high saturation power Ge-on-Si photodetectors.
abstract: We propose a mode-evolution-based coupler for high saturation power germanium-on-silicon photodetectors. This coupler uniformly illuminates the intrinsic germanium region of the detector, decreasing saturation effects, such as carrier screening, observed at high input powers. We demonstrate 70% more photocurrent generation (9.1-15.5 mA) and more than 40 times higher opto-electrical bandwidth (0.7-31 GHz) than conventional butt-coupled detectors under high-power illumination. The high-power and high-speed performance of the device, combined with the compactness of the coupling method, will enable new applications for integrated silicon photonics systems.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Timurdogan
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Christopher V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Poulton
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fahrenkopf
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leake
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Coolbaugh
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Watts