English

The University of California has developed a pioneering chip that can simultaneously carry lasers and photonic waveguides

136
2023-08-10 18:28:38
See translation

A team of computer and electrical engineers at UC Santa Barbara, in collaboration with several colleagues at Caltech and another colleague at Anello Photonics, has developed a first-of-its-kind chip that can carry both laser and photonic waveguides. In a paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they made the chip and how it worked during testing.

With the advent of integrated circuits, scientists learned to place transistors, diodes, and other components on a single chip, greatly increasing their potential. In the past few years, researchers working on photonics have hoped to achieve the same feat. People in the field say that the development of similar photonic chips could lead to more precise experiments with atomic clocks and could also be used for quantum applications. It will also reduce the need for huge optical platforms.

In order for such a chip to work, it must house both the laser and the photon waveguide. For this purpose, engineers have developed plug-in isolators to prevent reflections and thus avoid instability in the absence of plug-in isolators. Unfortunately, this method requires the use of magnetism, which causes problems in production. In this new effort, the research team found a way to overcome these problems and create the first truly usable composite chip.

To make the chip, the researchers first placed ultra-low loss silicon nitride waveguides on a silicon substrate. They then covered the waveguide with a variety of silicon and installed a low-noise indium phosphate laser on the waveguide. By separating the two components, the team prevented damage to the waveguide during etching.

The team notes that separating the two components also requires the use of a redistribution layer made of silicon nitride to allow interaction between the two components via the evanescent field. The distance formed by the silicon layer between the two components minimizes interference.

The researchers first measured its noise levels to test their chip. They found they were satisfied and then used it to create a tunable microwave frequency generator. They describe their chip as "a critical step toward complex systems and networks on silicon."

Source: Laser Network

Related Recommendations
  • Commitment to achieving 100 times the speed of on-chip lasers

    Although lasers are common in daily life, their applications go far beyond the scope of light shows and barcode reading. They play a crucial role in telecommunications, computer science, and research in biology, chemistry, and physics. In the latter field, lasers that can emit extremely short pulses are particularly useful, approximately one trillionth of a second or less.By operating these lasers...

    2023-11-13
    See translation
  • Latest breakthrough! 3500W free output blue semiconductor laser

    The 3500W free output blue semiconductor laser beam is output in a free space manner, with a rectangular spot directly acting on the material surface without the need for fiber optics or laser processing heads. This laser has a wavelength of 455 ± 10nm, with continuously adjustable power and a maximum output power of over 3500W. It is mainly used for non-ferrous metal cladding, quenching, etc., to...

    2024-09-03
    See translation
  • Single photon avalanche diode for millimeter level object recognition using KIST

    LiDAR sensors are crucial for implementing modern technologies such as autonomous driving, AR/VR, and advanced driving assistance systems. For example, more accurate shape detection in AR/VR devices and smartphones depends on the improved range resolution of medium and short range LiDAR. This requires a single photon detector with improved timing jitter performance.LiDAR calculates the distance an...

    2024-02-03
    See translation
  • Significant progress made in 808nm high-power semiconductor laser chips

    The R&D team of Xi'an Lixin Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Lixin Optoelectronics") has made significant progress in 808nm high-power semiconductor laser chips through continuous technological breakthroughs.808nm semiconductor laser, as an ideal and efficient solid-state laser pump source, plays an important role in advanced manufacturing, mechanical processin...

    2024-06-14
    See translation
  • Laser giant nLIGHT's preliminary performance forecast for the fourth quarter of 2024

    Recently, nLIGHT, a manufacturer of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers, released its preliminary performance forecast for the fourth quarter of 2024.According to disclosed information, nLIGHT expects its revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 to be between $46 million and $48 million, lower than the estimated range of $49 million to $54 million when it released its third quarter results on...

    01-16
    See translation