title: Integration of an O-band VCSEL on silicon photonics with polarization maintenance and waveguide coupling.
abstract: We demonstrate the hybrid integration of an O-band vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) onto a silicon photonic chip using a grating coupler that is optimized to simultaneously provide feedback to maintain the single emission polarization and efficient in-plane coupling. The grating coupler was fabricated on silicon-on-insulator using a standard silicon photonics foundry process, and integrated with a commercially available VCSEL. A transparent VCSEL submount was fabricated with femtosecond laser templating and chemical etching to simplify the passive and active alignment steps. A record-high VCSEL-to-chip coupling efficiency of -5 dB was obtained at a bias current of 2.5 mA. The slope efficiency and output power are competitive with microcavity hybrid silicon lasers. The results show the feasibility of VCSELs as low threshold current on-chip sources for silicon photonics.
authors.forename: Yisu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Gligor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Djogo
authors.forename: Moez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Joyce K S
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Poon