Low-SWaP, narrow-linewidth, and tunable lasers platform based on photonic integrated circuits

Taking cutting-edge optical technologies from laboratories to the real world requires high-performance laser sources that are compact, light, and energy efficient. To date, these systems have predominantly relied on bulky lasers made of free-space components, limiting their deployability. The rise of photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based lasers has changed the technological landscape by enabling practical low-SWaP laser optical systems. However, robust, fully integrated PIC-based laser systems with integrated driver electronics and control logic that deliver wavelengths of practical interest still need to be demonstrated. We will present our latest results on realizing a low-SWaP, narrow-linewidth, and tunable laser platform based on PICs and programmable control electronics. Our system consists of a Fabry-Perot laser diode and a PIC inside a butterfly package, controlled by a programmable electronic board with low-noise drivers and other relevant components that enable advanced functionalities. Example performance at 780 nm includes intrinsic linewidth down to ∼0.7 kHz, mode-hop-free tuning up to ∼50 GHz, side-mode suppression ratio >50 dB, and output power up to ∼30 mW.