Improved Reliability Testing Systems for Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers
Supervisor: Dr Adam McKenzie and Prof Jeff Kettle
Industry Partner: Vector Photonics Ltd.
School: Engineering
Description:
In a recent Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) collaboration, the University of Glasgow (UofG) have been working with Vector Photonics Ltd. (VP) to advance the commercialisation of their novel photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL) technology. Central to this has been the development and commissioning of in-house accelerated lifetest (ALT) capabilities at VP. This ALT equipment is designed to validate the performance and reliability of PCSELs using high temperature and current stressing to accelerate their time-to-failure. Through this reliability testing, the mechanisms underpinning the failures can be identified and improvements made to device design to increase their operational lifetime.
As the development of PCSEL technology progresses, it is critical that the ALT system be modified to align with industry standards and the ongoing technology requirements of VP. In this case the electrical and mechanical components in the system need to be redesigned to fit with industry standard packaging, TO cans. Through this project, the summer researcher will contribute to the redesign and upgrade of the ALT system and use it to conduct the first reliability experiments on TO can-packaged PCSELs.
The summer researcher will:
- Use CAD tools to design temperature-controlled racks suitable for mounting 8 - 16 lasers, and housings that will enable in-situ monitoring and testing of devices.
- Design and manufacture PCB boards used in the current delivery system, allowing for devices to be driven and measurements taken in and efficient manner.
- Assemble and test the designed components and qualify the upgraded system.
- Test and characterise PCSEL performance through electrical and optical measurements.
- Design and implement ALT experiments using upgraded system.