News: Optoelectronics
27 January 2025
Ortel transfers C-band high-power cw laser from Emcore fab to Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre
Ortel LLC of Alhambra, CA, USA (which was acquired by Photonics Foundries in 2023, and offers products for wireless, sensing, satcoms and broadband applications) has transferred wafer fabrication for its flagship C-band, high-power, continuous wave laser module platform to pure-play III–V semiconductor wafer foundry Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC), which is located at the National Research Council of Canada. Transfer assures uninterrupted wafer supply and a smooth transition of the laser to expanding markets including LiDAR, fiber-optic sensing, coherent and externally modulated fiber-optic communications, and test & measurement.
The laser features a narrow linewidth (typically 50kHz), high power (up to 100mW) and low-noise performance. The laser is also available for DWDM applications as it is offered on the ITU wavelength grid. It is offered as the model 1790 in 14-pin butterfly form, model 1995 in a cooled TO56 package, and on various standard or custom chip-on-sub mount forms. Initial customer samples will be available in February, with fully qualified production device availability expected in second-quarter 2025.
Picture: Ortel C-band, high-power cw laser module featuring narrow-linewidth, high-power and low-noise performance.
“Throughout the design and qualification process, we’ve been thrilled to partner with the team at the CPFC,” comments Grant Olecko, Ortel’s VP of product line management. “Their wafer fab is a state-of-the-art facility offering key advantages over the prior Emcore fab including supply security, custom epitaxy growth, superior technology, and major capacity improvements. The CPFC’s impressive world-class scientists and engineers leverage sophisticated tools and advanced process technology to help our customers achieve exceptional precision and optimized laser performance. These capabilities, layered with Ortel’s recognized strengths in device design, vertical integration and global expertise, create a considerable advantage for customers,” he adds.
The CPFC hosts a comprehensive toolset for commercial production of photonic chips including custom epitaxy growth services. Since 2004 it has accrued expertise in fabricating semiconductor lasers, optical amplifiers, high-speed modulators, micro-LEDs, and gallium nitride (GaN) RF ICs.
“We are delighted to formalize our long-term relationship with Ortel,” says CPFC’s director general Velko Tzolov. “This partnership will allow us to work together on innovative technologies that drive impactful device performance improvements while continuously maintaining highly reliable wafer fabrication.”
Canada invests CDN$240m in semiconductor and photonics industries
