Researchers from the HSE University St. Petersburg and the Shandong Academy of Sciences have developed a method to compare the speed of microdisk lasers powered by optical and electrical energy. The study, published in the Journal of Lightwave Technology, aims to optimize radiation sources for photonic chips used in AI and data centers.
The team measured radiation intensity and analyzed ultrafast processes with a precision of 0.2 picoseconds. By applying Fourier transform, they converted temporal laser signals into frequency signals, allowing for a direct comparison on a single scale. This approach overcomes previous limitations where different measurement methods were used for each type of pumping.
The analysis of microdisk laser dynamics across various modes revealed a maximum speed of 4.15 GHz. The experiment demonstrated that there is virtually no difference in performance between optical and electrical pumping. These findings provide a basis for upgrading device designs and developing next-generation photonic integrated circuits.
According to lead researcher Alexey Nadtochiy, the ability to compare these speeds enables new insights into physical processes. Future applications include creating multiple computing circuits on a single chip for rapid signal transmission or developing networks of optically coupled micro-lasers that function as neural networks or reservoir computing systems.
