English

New method doubles and accelerates thermal tuning of optical chips, supporting two current and voltage regulation methods

1181
2024-04-02 14:36:03
See translation

Silicon based quantum chip technology is one of the hot research directions in the field of integrated photonics. Thanks to compatibility with CMOS technology and silicon material characteristics, silicon-based integrated optical chips and devices have many advantages such as low cost, small size, low power consumption, and high integration, providing an ideal platform for large-scale optical computing, optical quantum computing, and information processing applications.

The Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is a core device for high-precision programming operations in optical (quantum) computing chips. By combining and modulating the MZI and phase shifter, the key step of quantum state encoding can be completed, improving the information processing capability of optical quantum chips.

Specifically, the experimenter adjusts the phase difference of the transmitted light in the upper and lower arms of the MZI by applying different currents and voltages, thereby changing the intensity and phase of the output light, resulting in interference and achieving control of the optical path. To maximize the accuracy of chip calculations, it is necessary to accurately find the functional relationship between the phase shifter and the driving voltage and current. With the sharp increase in the number of connected MZIs on the chip, the combination of current, voltage, and phase shifter results in an exponential increase. Therefore, it is particularly important to find an efficient and feedback based current and voltage regulation method for phase shifters.

Thermal tuning test plan for MZI silicon polishing chip
The Sizhen programmable multi-channel current (voltage) source has a compact size and can achieve up to 64 channels of high-precision constant current and constant voltage output. The experimenter connected the current and voltage source to the PCB download adapter board through a shielded cable via SCSI, which can simultaneously apply appropriate voltage or current to 64 channels and adjust to obtain the desired optical signal. The loading values of each channel are initially random, and the experimenter finds the appropriate value through each iteration of the feedback function to achieve fast switching of current and voltage setting values. Among them, the maximum single channel current value of the series products can reach 100mA.

This solution supports two current and voltage regulation methods:
1. Manual adjustment: Directly input indicators through upper computer software
2. Python instruction automation control: The current and voltage source is programmed in Python to transmit control signals to the chip, then the PD value is detected and fed back to the current and voltage source through computer coding to change the control signal until the desired result is obtained.

Figure (a) shows a chip structure that can achieve any unitary transformation, and Figure (b) shows a chip structure that can achieve any two bit quantum operation, integrating a large number of MZI devices on the chip

Thermal tuning testing scheme for MZI silicon zenith computing chip

Source: Guangxing Tianxia

Related Recommendations
  • The scientific research team has proposed a modeless Raman fiber laser using a traditional resonant cavity structure

    The pump source, gain material, and resonant cavity are the three elements that make up a laser. Due to the selective effect of the resonant cavity on the lasing frequency, multi longitudinal mode operation is one of the characteristics of fiber lasers based on traditional resonant cavity structures, manifested as periodic beat peaks in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum and periodic fluctuations i...

    2023-08-15
    See translation
  • Research progress and prospects of CFRP laser surface cleaning

    Researchers from Materials Science at Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute at Harbin Institute of Technology, and Key Laboratory of Microsystems and Microstructure Manufacturing at Harbin Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, reviewed and reported on the research progress of laser surface cleaning of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRP). The relevant ...

    03-06
    See translation
  • Enhanced dielectric, electrical, and electro-optic properties: investigation of the interaction of dispersed CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in 8OCB liquid crystals in the intermediate phase

    authorElsa Lani, Aloka SinhaabstractAt present, the progress in developing new liquid crystal materials for next-generation applications mainly focuses on improving the physical properties of liquid crystal systems.Recent research progress has shown that functionalized nanoparticles embedded in LC matrix can significantly alter the properties of LC materials based on the interaction between host m...

    2024-03-04
    See translation
  • Outstanding Optical Technologies at the 2025 Western Optoelectronics Exhibition in the United States

    In the long history of technological development, every major breakthrough in technology is like a shining star, illuminating the path forward for humanity. At the Photonics West conference in 2025, numerous breakthroughs in cutting-edge photonics technologies attracted the attention of the global academic and industrial communities. Several important technological advancements reported in this ex...

    02-12
    See translation
  • Zygo showcases 3D optical metrology instruments on Space Comm

    Zygo Corporation, a business unit of AMETEK, announced that it will be showcased at the D28 booth of the Space Comm Expo held in Farnborough, UK from March 6th to 7th this year.Space Comm showcases the end-to-end supply chain of products, services, and applications that provide information and technological development for commercial aerospace enterprises, governments, and defense organizations, p...

    2024-03-01
    See translation