SWIR InGaAs/GaAsSb type-II quantum well photodetectors and spectrometers integrated on SOI

The short-wave infrared wavelength range (2-3 μm) is attractive for applications in gas sensing and next-generation communication systems. Photodetectors and wavelength (de)multiplexers are key components that have to be developed for these systems. In this contribution, we report the integration of InGaAs/GaAsSb type-II quantum well photodetectors and spectrometers on the silicon photonics platform. In this photodetector epitaxial layer stack, the absorbing active region consists of 6 periods of W-shaped quantum wells, which can also be used to realize lasers. The efficient coupling between silicon waveguides and quantum well photodetectors is realized by tapered III-V waveguides. The photodetectors have a very low dark current of 12 nA at -0.5 V bias at room temperature. The devices show a responsivity of 1.2 A/W at 2.32 μm wavelength, and higher than 0.5A/W over the 2.2-2.4 μm wavelength range. On the silicon-on-insulator platform we also demonstrate high performance short-wave infrared spectrometers. 8-channel spectrometers in the 2.3-2.4 μm range with a resolution of 5nm and 1.4nm are demonstrated, showing a cross-talk below -25 dB and an insertion loss lower than 3 dB.