Abstract

Realizing the ultimate potential of fiber optical communications technology for the rapid processing and transmission of information requires development of integrated optical circuits (IOC's). Reliable cost-effective techniques for the fabrication of transmitters and receivers containing lasers, waveguides, modulators, switches, couplers, and photo-detectors must be developed. The most promising emerging technology for IOC's is the formation of optical microcircuitry in the III-V semiconductor materials system (GaAs and its ternary alloys with Aℓ, In, etc.). A program for the development of a GaAs IOC transmitter such as shown in Figure 1 is being carried out. This IOC transmitter is to consist of a monolithic surface laser whose output is coupled into patterned channel waveguides. Modulation and switching of the radiation occur in the waveguide circuit and are controlled separately. These structures are to be fabricated monolithically on a single semiconductor chip with each device amenable to integrated, low-cost manufacture. The waveguide outputs of the IOC transmitter will be coupled to single mode optical fibers which form a transmission cable.

© 1976 Optical Society of America