Net continuous wave optical gain in a low loss silicon-on-insulator waveguide by stimulated Raman scattering

Opt Express. 2005 Jan 24;13(2):519-25. doi: 10.1364/opex.13.000519.

Abstract

We observe for the first time net continuous wave optical gain in a low loss silicon-on-insulator waveguide based on stimulated Raman scattering. We show that nonlinear optical loss due to two-photon absorption induced free carrier absorption can be significantly reduced by introducing a reverse biased p-i-n diode in the waveguide. For a 4.8 cm long waveguide with an effective core area of ~1.6 microm2, we obtain a net CW Raman gain of > 3dB with a pump power of ~700mW inside the waveguide.