First Monolithically Integrated Dual-Pumped Phase-Sensitive Amplifier Chip Based on a Saturated Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

For the first time, a monolithically integrated photonic phase-sensitive amplification chip is fabricated and demonstrated based on an InP/InGaAsP platform. Different semiconductor optical amplifiers have been fabricated as well for characterization. On the chip, two tunable laser pumps that are coherently injection-locked, respectively, from two first-order sidebands of an externally modulated tone are generated to enable signal-degenerate dual-pumped phase-sensitive amplification in a saturated semiconductor optical amplifier. Experiments on different chips are conducted to successfully demonstrate phase-sensitive amplification with approximately 6.3 and 7.8 dB extinction of phase-sensitive on-chip gain. Theoretical simulations are performed and agree well with experimental results. The additive noise properties of the phase-sensitive amplification chip are also investigated. © 2015 IEEE.