Recent Progress in On-Chip Erbium-Based Light Sources

In recent years, silicon photonics has achieved great success in optical communication area. More and more on-chip optoelectronic devices have been realized commercialized on platform, such as silicon-based modulators, filters detectors. However, light sources are still not because that is an indirect bandgap material. To solve this problem, the rare earth element erbium (Er) considered, which emits covering 1.5 μm to 1.6 widely used fiber amplifiers. Compared Er-doped amplifiers (EDFA), Er ion concentration needs be than two orders higher for Er-based due compact size integration requirements. Therefore, choice of host material crucially important. paper, we review progress advantages disadvantages different materials compared analyzed. Finally, existing challenges development directions discussed.