Lack of critical communication components (external modulators, high-sensitivity detectors, amplifiers) has long hindered the development of high-speed free-space transmission in the 8-12 μm thermal atmospheric window. Unipolar quantum technology has emerged as a game-changer by developing key elements that outperform conventional direct-modulation schemes in terms of performance. In particular, we demonstrated a free-space communication at 30 Gbits/s. High-speed modulation of the 9 μm-wavelength beam from a quantum cascade laser is implemented with a Stark-effect external modulator while fast detection relies on a quantum well infrared photodetector. In between, a multi-pass cell allows increasing the propagation distance to 31 meters.
Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) free-space optical communication offers multiple advantages, such as improved transmission capacity through the atmosphere and immunity to electromagnetic interference. In addition, MIR transmission between 8-12 microns provides stealth for the communication signal thanks to the random thermal blackbody radiation having a strong background at these wavelengths, hence greatly reducing the probability of adversaries intercepting a MIR laser signal. Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) are optical sources of choice to target this wavelength domain. They are unipolar semiconductor lasers from which stimulated emission is obtained via electronic transitions between discrete energy states inside the conduction band. This work reports on a full unipolar quantum optoelectronics communication system based on a 9-micron QCL and on a Stark-effect modulator. Two different receivers are considered for high-speed detection, namely an uncooled Quantum Cascade Detector (QCD) and a nitrogen-cooled Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP). We evaluate the maximum data rate of our link in a back-to-back (B2B) configuration before adding a multi-pass Herriott cell so as to increase the transmission length of the light path up to 31 meters. By using pulse shaping, pre- and post-processing, we reach a record bitrate both two-level (OOK) and four-level (PAM-4) modulation scheme for a 31-meter propagation link and a Bit Error Rate (BER) compatible with standard error-correction codes. Overall, we believe that our unipolar quantum system is of paramount importance for the development of cost-effective, reliable and versatile free-space optics data links.
Free-space optical communication is a very promising alternative to fiber communication systems, in terms of ease of deployment and costs. Midinfrared light has several features of utter relevance for free-space applications: low absorption when propagating in the atmosphere even under adverse conditions, robustness of the wavefront during long-distance propagation, and absence of regulations and restrictions for this range of wavelengths. A proof-of-concept of high-speed transmission taking advantage of intersubband devices has recently been demonstrated, but this effort was limited by the short-distance optical path (up to 1 m). In this work, we study the possibility of building a long-range link using unipolar quantum optoelectronics. Two different detectors are used: an uncooled quantum cascade detector and a nitrogen-cooled quantum well-infrared photodetector. We evaluate the maximum data rate of our link in a back-to-back configuration before adding a Herriott cell to increase the length of the light path up to 31 m. By using pulse shaping, pre- and post-processing, we reach a record bitrate of 30 Gbit s − 1 for both two-level (OOK) and four-level (PAM-4) modulation schemes for a 31-m propagation link and a bit error rate compatible with error-correction codes.
The challenge of Unipolar Quantum Optoelectronics (UQO) is to bring reliable technology in the mid-infrared and terahertz domains with dozens of GHz bandwidth and room-temperature operation. The semiconductor devices based on this novel technology rely on two-dimensional electronic states localized in the conduction band, which implies that electrons are the only charge carriers involved. Though UQO technology has been proven useful for emission (quantum cascade lasers) and detection (quantum cascade detectors), it is still underdeveloped for other applications, like high-speed modulation. In this paper, we will review our recent results with a full transmission system UQO in the 8 to 14 µm atmospheric window, composed of a quantum cascade (QC) laser, an external modulator and a QC detector, all optimized for operation at 33 THz optical wavelength. Dynamics down to a few dozens of picoseconds are observed, which allow us demonstrating data rate transmission of 10 Gbps without any signal processing. In addition, the paper aims at discussing further applications of UQO in particular for radio over free-space. The basic principle for producing microwave carriers is based on an optical heterodyne beating technique taking advantage of the high-bandwidth potential of QC detectors. Then, the microwave signal is transmitted through a point-to-point wireless link by using radiofrequency antennas. With UQO, microwave signals of dozens of GHz can be achieved. To sum, this paper highlights the importance of using UQO devices operating at a few dozens of THz optical wavelength for both free-space optics and microwave photonics targeting 100 GHz radiofrequencies.
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