Microfabrication Platform for Guided-Wave Optics and Micro-electro-mechanical Systems Integration

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Improvements in micro-fabrication processes have enabled electronic circuit designers to increase the performance of electronic chips while also decreasing their cost. Researchers have leveraged the advanced micro-fabrication tools designed to sustain the growth of the electronic industry to introduce novel microsystems. These include micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), which have found applications as sensors in many commercial products, including cars and cell phones. Micro-fabrication technologies can also be used to create optical devices and systems on the chip scale. This has led to the emergence of the fast growing field of silicon photonics. The objective of this research project is to develop a micro-fabrication platform that will combine the efficiency of MEMS actuators with the versatility of integrated optics. As a result, the platform will be ideal to miniaturize and integrate complex optical systems, which will contribute to reduce their cost and hence increase their accessibility. To demonstrate the potential of the platform, we will develop an optical channel selection system that will be the basis for the next generation of tunable transceivers of AEPONYX inc., a company offering solutions to build cost-effective wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical networks. However, the benefits of this research projects are expected to go beyond the improvement of telecommunication networks since devices built with the novel platform could find applications in many other areas, including environmental sensing and medical imaging. Moreover, the people trained during the research program will gain valuable advanced design and manufacturing skills. The proposed program will train 1 research assistant, 1 post-doctoral researcher, 2 PhDs, 4 Master's and 3 undergraduate students.