Materials and Device Development for Silicon-based Optoelectronics

对通信网络带宽增加的需求似乎永无止境，这给硬件和软件工程师带来了有史以来最大的技术挑战。带宽需求的指标包括连接到互联网的设备数量和数据中心内的总流量；两者都呈现指数增长。前者与所谓的物联网(IoT)直接相关，而后者提供了一个具有不可避免轨迹的路线图的严酷现实，但实现的解决方案尚不清楚，或尚未实施。*这项提议将利用被称为硅光子(SiP)的强大技术，满足对可扩展且经济高效的网络硬件的需求。在其最基本的层面上，sip将电子量子与光学量子相结合，具有显著的性能提升；sip将彻底改变所有距离的数据传输。在该提案中，我描述了一项针对sip系统的材料和设备的创新研究计划。该计划是作为研究生工程师的强有力的培训工具而建立的。*我将探索通过离子注入在硅波导中制造的缺陷的特征。这样的缺陷在单片探测器中得到了(例如)利用。这在2000 nm左右的波长尤其重要，因为那里正在开发一个新的通信窗口。随后，我将制作一个2000 nm的完整sip平台，并演示一条工作在25 GB/S的光链路。我将开发离子束技术，为需要应变工程的应用展示选择性合成硅中锗体积的前景。使用硅微环调制器，我将扩展我之前在高度集成的WDM收发机方面的工作。我将探索微细稳定和制造后修剪的方法，目的是大幅减少相关的功率预算。我将在我之前关于使用硅微环调制器进行色散补偿的工作的基础上，扩展到使用复合元件，例如双环或将提供链路色散调谐的环辅助马赫-曾德斯。我将追求副载波调制的概念，目标是在与波分复用相结合时，实现单个单元的数据传输速率接近1TB/S。*加拿大人的切实利益将包括：a)为加拿大的sip行业提供战略支持；b)为一个重要的工业部门直接培训HQP；c)实现新的sip产品和服务。从广义上讲，这项工作将成为正在展开的全球信息革命的一部分，加拿大人下载信息、参与社交网络、获取有关其环境的信息、要求快速医疗诊断和使用消费电子产品，都经历了这场革命。

The seemingly insatiable demand for increased bandwidth on communication networks is presenting the greatest technological challenges ever made on hardware and software engineers alike. Indicators of bandwidth demand include the number of devices connected to the internet and the total traffic within data-centres; both exhibit exponential growth. The former relates directly to the so-called Internet-of-Things (IoT) while the latter presents the stark reality of a roadmap with an inevitable trajectory, but for which solutions for realization are not known, or have yet to be implemented. *** This proposal will address the need for network hardware that is scalable and cost-effective, utilizing the powerful technology known as Silicon Photonics (SiP). At its most fundamental level SiP integrates electronic with optical quanta with remarkable performance gains; SiP will revolutionize data transfer at all distances. In the proposal I describe an innovative program of research on materials and devices for SiP systems. The program is constructed as a strong training vehicle for graduate engineers. *** I will explore characteristics of defects engineered via ion implantation in silicon waveguides. Such defects find utilization (for example) in monolithic detectors. This is of particular importance at wavelengths around 2000nm where a new communication window is under development. I will subsequently fabricate a complete SiP platform for 2000nm and demonstrate an optical link operating at >25Gb/s. I will develop ion beam techniques which show promise for selective synthesis of germanium volumes in silicon for applications requiring strain engineering. Using silicon microring modulators I will expand my previous work on highly integrated WDM transceivers. I will explore methods for microring stabilization and post-fabrication trimming with the aim to dramatically reduce the associated power budget. I will expand on my previous work on dispersion compensation using silicon microring modulators to the use of compounded elements such as dual rings, or ring assisted Mach-Zehnders which will provide link-dispersion tuning. I will pursue the concept of sub-carrier modulation with the aim of realising data transfer rates approaching 1Tb/s for a single unit when combined with WDM. *** Tangible benefits to Canadians will include: a) strategic support for the Canadian SiP industry; b) direct training of HQP for a vital industrial sector c) realization of new SiP-enabled products and services. In a broad sense, this work will form part of the unfolding global information revolution which is experienced by Canadians who download information, take part in social networking, access information on their environment, require rapid medical diagnosis, and utilize consumer electronics.