Zia teams with CyOptics to make QD lasers
Under the agreement, CyOptics will collaborate with Zia to develop the processes required to manufacture 1550 nm tunable gain QD lasers and 1310 nm uncooled QD lasers, including fabricating InP wafers and packaging laser samples. CyOptics will also buy 1310 nm lasers from Zia; the first 1310 nm devices are scheduled to be completed and packaged by the end of this year.
Zia’s 1550 nm tunable gain chip is designed to be the core of a tunable external cavity laser system covering the S-, C- and L-bands. The company’s 1310 nm uncooled DFB laser operates at up to 10 Gbit/s with 5 mW of output power. This laser can be used in modules to provide uncooled 80 km transmission without the need for isolators, simplifying and reducing packaging costs.
CyOptics opened its new ISO9001-certified InP wafer fab in February. The fab includes two MOCVD reactors and wafer growth/regrowth equipment, which is used to manufacture CyOptics’ 10 Gbit/s electroabsorption modulated lasers, as well as 10 and 40 Gbit/s electroabsorption modulators and detectors.
"Zia Laser is bringing a fabless business model to the optical components industry," said Tom Brennan, CEO of Zia Laser. "This model enables us to leverage our financial resources, and gives us access to industry-leading manufacturing facilities and expertise. The CyOptics combination of state-of-the-art equipment and exceptional process technology will enable us to rapidly bring breakthrough products to market."