Integration of high-speed optical taps with InP waveguides

Abstract
Optical taps are key elements for optical signal processing. The authors demonstrate the high-speed operation of an InGaAs p-i-n photodetector on InP waveguides. For a 300- mu m-long tap that samples 19% of the light propagating in a 7- mu m-wide waveguide, the response time is 50 ps at a 1 V reverse bias. The taps require a simple epitaxial growth and can readily be integrated with electrooptic modulators and other optoelectronic devices for multigigahertz optical signal processing.