%0 Journal Article
%T Photo-Detectors Integrated with Resonant Tunneling Diodes
%A Bruno Romeira
%A Luis M. Pessoa
%A Henrique M. Salgado
%A Charles N. Ironside
%A Jos¨¦ M. L. Figueiredo
%J Sensors
%D 2013
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/s130709464
%X We report on photo-detectors consisting of an optical waveguide that incorporates a resonant tunneling diode (RTD). Operating at wavelengths around 1.55 ¦Ìm in the optical communications C band we achieve maximum sensitivities of around 0.29 A/W which is dependent on the bias voltage. This is due to the nature of RTD nonlinear current-voltage characteristic that has a negative differential resistance (NDR) region. The resonant tunneling diode photo-detector (RTD-PD) can be operated in either non-oscillating or oscillating regimes depending on the bias voltage quiescent point. The oscillating regime is apparent when the RTD-PD is biased in the NDR region giving rise to electrical gain and microwave self-sustained oscillations Taking advantage of the RTD¡¯s NDR distinctive characteristics, we demonstrate efficient detection of gigahertz (GHz) modulated optical carriers and optical control of a RTD GHz oscillator. RTD-PD based devices can have applications in generation and optical control of GHz low-phase noise oscillators, clock recovery systems, and fiber optic enabled radio frequency communication systems.
%K double barrier quantum well structures
%K clock recovery
%K microwave-photonics
%K optical injection locking
%K optoelectronic circuits
%K oscillators
%K photo-detectors
%K radio-over-fiber
%K resonant tunneling diodes
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/7/9464