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

本研究的目的是通过使用混合纳米光子波导横截面来克服当今光波通信设备中的基本性能限制，该混合纳米光子波导横截面由硅和铁电氧化物的键合堆叠组成，例如，碳酸锂。该方法是使用混合材料制造调制器和非线性光电器件，该混合材料通过使用低温等离子体辅助键合工艺将氧化物薄膜转移到平坦化的硅光子芯片上形成，该工艺将二极管和晶体管保留在硅芯片中。该提议的智力价值是通过使用这种混合材料系统来实现，光电子器件的性能超出了单独使用任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强大的高非线性。该项目还将展示比传统锂酸盐结构更复杂的波导结构。该提案的更广泛影响首先是通过在不增加能源消耗的情况下实现更快的数据网络来满足现代社会信息驱动的基础设施需求。第二，GOALI是一所大学和一家小企业之间的合作，双方都对这一研究领域感兴趣，包括双向研究人员访问以及技术和知识转让。这次合作的结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.