Monolithic magneto-optical isolators for on-chip photonic integration

非技术性：光隔离器是电二极管的光学类似物：它们允许光在一个方向上传输，但阻止光在相反方向上传播。隔离器是光子集成电路中必不可少的元件，用于防止电路不同部分之间的有害串扰并稳定电路工作。然而，目前的光隔离器是与光子芯片上的集成不兼容的笨重设备。该计划旨在开发基于新型磁光氧化物材料的器件技术，以创建适合与硅光子电路直接集成的光隔离器。通过该计划开发的隔离器器件将在光通信和光子信号处理领域产生直接影响。除了数据通信，它还将在新兴应用中发挥关键作用，如自旋电子学，磁光传感和磁等离子体。科学研究将与大规模开放式在线课程开发，高中，本科和研究生培训以及K-12教室的教育模块设计紧密结合。技术：光隔离器，只允许光在一个方向传输的设备，是光子集成电路的关键部件，是一个更大的非互易光学器件类别。尽管它们至关重要，但由于磁光氧化物和普通半导体衬底之间的大晶格常数和热膨胀系数失配，在芯片上集成光隔离器一直是一项具有挑战性的任务。该计划旨在通过采用材料工程和器件创新双管齐下的方法来填补差距。该计划将开发一个非互易隔离器/循环器设备使用单片生长的多晶铈掺杂钇铁石榴石作为磁光介质，并结合新的设备设计，以提高设备的性能。该研究将使隔离器器件同时实现单片集成、无源器件操作、大隔离比、最小插入损耗、小基底面以及优越的上级操作带宽，从而解决片上光隔离的长期挑战。

Non-technical: Optical isolators are optical analogs of electrical diodes: they allow light to be transmitted in one direction but block light propagation in the opposite direction. Isolators are essential components for photonic integrated circuits to prevent harmful cross-talk between different parts of circuits and stabilize circuit operation. However, current optical isolators are bulky devices not compatible with integration on photonic chips. This program aims to develop the device technologies based on novel magneto-optical oxide materials to create optical isolators amenable to direct integration with silicon photonic circuits. The isolator device developed through this program will have an immediate impact in the fields of optical communications and photonic signal processing. Besides data communication, it will also play a pivotal role in emerging applications such as spintronics, magneto-optical sensing, and magnetoplasmonics. The scientific research will be tightly integrated with Massive Open Online Course development, high school, undergraduate and graduate student training, as well as educational module design for K-12 classrooms.Technical: Optical isolators, devices that allow light transmission in only one direction, are critical components of photonic integrated circuits, and exemplify a larger class of nonreciprocal optical devices. Despite their critical importance, integration of optical isolators on-chip has been a challenging task due to the large lattice constant and coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between magneto-optical oxides and common semiconductor substrates. This program aims at filling the gap by assuming a two-pronged approach involving both material engineering and device innovation. The program will develop a nonreciprocal isolator/circulator device using monolithically grown polycrystalline Cerium-doped Yttrium Iron Garnet as the magneto-optical medium, and incorporate novel device designs to enhance device performance. The research will lead to an isolator device simultaneously achieving monolithic integration, passive device operation, large isolation ratio, minimal insertion loss, and small footprint, as well as superior operation bandwidth, thus resolving the standing challenge of on-chip optical isolation.