GOALI: Active and nonlinear silicon photonics using hybrid thin-film lithium-niobate + silicon

这项研究的目的是通过使用由硅和铁电氧化物（如铌酸锂）键合堆栈组成的混合纳米光子波导截面，克服当今光波通信设备的基本性能限制。该方法是使用混合材料制造调制器和非线性光电子器件，混合材料由氧化薄膜形成，通过低温等离子体辅助键合工艺转移到平面硅光子芯片上，该工艺保留了硅芯片中的二极管和晶体管。该提案的智力价值在于，通过使用这种混合材料系统，实现了光电器件的性能超越了单独使用任何一种材料系统制造的器件的可能性边界。在硅光子学的背景下，该项目将在不牺牲高折射率对比度的情况下展示鲁棒性和高非线性。该项目还将展示比传统铌酸锂结构更复杂的波导结构。这项建议的更广泛影响是，首先，通过在不增加能源消耗的情况下实现更快的数据网络，使现代社会对信息驱动的基础设施的需求受益。其次，大学和小企业之间的GOALI合作，双方都对这一领域的研究感兴趣，包括双向研究员访问，技术和知识转移。此次合作的成果将发表在同行评议的文献中，将成为研究生论文研究的组成部分，并将为感兴趣的各方提供未来商业化的路线图。该项目还着眼于为代表性不足的群体提供跨学科教育和培训的机会。

The objective of this research is to overcome fundamental performance limitations in today's lightwave communications devices by using a hybrid nanophotonic waveguide cross-section, consisting of a bonded stack of silicon and of a ferroelectric oxide, e.g., lithium niobate. The approach is that modulators and nonlinear optoelectronic devices will be fabricated using the hybrid material, formed by oxide thin films being transferred onto a planarized silicon photonic chip using a low-temperature plasma-assisted bonding process which preserves diodes and transistors in the silicon chip.The intellectual merit of this proposal is to realize, via use of this hybrid material system, optoelectronic devices that perform beyond the possibility frontier of devices fabricated using either material system alone. In the context of silicon photonics, the project will demonstrate a robust and high nonlinearity without sacrificing high index contrast. The project will also demonstrate more complex waveguide structures than possible in conventional lithium niobate structures. The broader impact of this proposal is firstly, to benefit the information-driven infrastructure needs of modern society by enabling faster data networks without increasing energy consumption. Secondly, this GOALI collaboration between a university and a small business, both having committed interest in this area of research, involves two-way researcher visits, and technology and knowledge transfer. Results from this collaboration will be published in peer-reviewed literature, will form components of graduate student thesis research, and will provide a roadmap to future commercialization by interested parties. The project also target opportunities for interdisciplinary education and training of underrepresented groups.