Essential equipemtn for state-of-the-art characterization of elctro-optic and magneto-optic thin film based devices

随着越来越多的数据通过光脉冲在光纤网络上传输，光计算将很快成为现实，用于通信和全光处理的光的有效控制已经成为光子学工程师极其重要的目标。然而，这样的努力必然需要通过不同使能材料的单片集成来制造低成本、超紧凑的光电子芯片中的几个器件。为此，这项应用的PI已经建立了一个强有力的研究计划，旨在开发一种用于光子学和光电子学应用的新型薄膜技术。特别是，他们特别感兴趣的是：a)高质量、低损耗的电光薄膜(基于BST、PLZT和CBN)和：b)高性能磁光薄膜(基于YIG和Ce-YIG)，直接沉积在其他铁电波导的顶部，最后是IV和III-V族半导体(即STO、GaAs、AlGaAs、Si、SOI等)的制备。然而，这里提出的实验提出了几个技术挑战，需要紧急升级设备。例如，a)需要在小信噪比条件下以可接受的(几十MHz)速度使用i)机动补偿器级和ii)快速检测线来测试现有技术的电光设备。同时，B)将使用III)带有附件的C框架电磁铁和IV)合适的激光探测系统来测试各种薄膜和器件的磁光特性。这项申请将补充来自其他来源的资金。与我们的研究项目相关的好处有两个：它们将为新的先进技术的开发铺平道路，并将促进高素质人才的培训，与加拿大行业和社会的总体需求保持一致。

While an increasingly larger amount of data are transported across optical fiber networks by light pulses, and optical computing will soon be a reality, the efficient control of light for communication purposes and all-optical processing has become an extremely important target for photonics engineers. However, such effort necessarily requires the fabrication of several devices in low cost, ultra-compact photonics chips via the monolithic integration of different enabling materials. For this reason, the PIs of this application have established a vigorous research program directed towards the development of a novel thin film technology for applications in photonics and optoelectronics. In particular, they are especially interested in the fabrication of: A) high quality, low loss electro-optic thin films (based on BST, PLZT and CBN) and of: B) high performance magneto-optic thin films (based on Yig and Ce-Yig), to be directly deposited on top of other ferroelectrics waveguides and finally, of Group IV and III-V semiconductors (i.e. STO, GaAs, AlGaAs, Si, SoI, etc). However, the experiments proposed here present several technical challenges that require an urgent equipment upgrading. For example, A) state of the art electro-optic devices need to be tested in conditions of small signal to noise ratio and at an acceptable (several tens of MHz) speed using i) a Motorized compensator stage and ii) a Fast detection line. In parallel, B) the magneto-optic properties of various thin films and devices will be tested using iii) a C-Frame electromagnet with accessories and iv) a suitable laser-detection system. This application will complement funding from other sources. The benefits related to our research programs are twofold: they will pave the way to the development of new advanced technologies and will promote the training of highly qualified personnel, consistently with the needs of Canadian industry and society in general.