Papichaya Chaisakul

Ge-rich graded-index Si_1-xGex waveguides with broadband tight mode confinement and flat anomalous dispersion for nonlinear mid-infrared photonics

This work explores the use of Ge-rich graded-index Si1-xGex rib waveguides as building blocks to develop integrated nonlinear optical devices for broadband operation in the mid-IR. The vertical Ge gradient concentration in the waveguide core renders unique properties to the guided optical mode, providing tight mode confinement over a broadband mid-IR wavelength range from λ = 3 µm to 8 µm. Additionally, the gradual vertical confinement pulls the optical mode upwards in the waveguide core, overlapping with the Ge-rich area where the nonlinear refractive index is larger. Moreover, the Ge-rich graded-index Si1-xGex waveguides allow efficient tailoring of the chromatic dispersion curves, achieving flat anomalous dispersion for the quasi-TM optical mode with D ≤ 14 ps/nm/km over a ~1.4 octave span while retaining an optimum third-order nonlinear parameter, γeff. These results confirm the potential of Ge-rich graded-index Si1-xGex waveguides as an attractive platform to develop mid-IR nonlinear approaches requiring broadband dispersion engineering.

A new material platform of Si photonics for implementing architecture of dense wavelength division multiplexing on Si bulk wafer

Abstract A new materials group to implement dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in Si photonics is proposed. A large thermo-optic (TO) coefficient of Si malfunctions multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) on a chip under thermal fluctuation, and thus DWDM implementation, has been one of the most challenging targets in Si photonics. The present study specifies an optical materials group for DWDM by a systematic survey of their TO coefficients and refractive indices. The group is classified as mid-index contrast optics (MiDex) materials, and non-stoichiometric silicon nitride (SiNx) is chosen to demonstrate its significant thermal stability. The TO coefficient of non-stoichiometric SiNx is precisely measured in the temperature range 24–76 °C using the SiNx rings prepared by two methods: chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD). The CVD-SiNx ring reveals nearly the same TO coefficient reported for stoichiometric CVD-Si3N4, while the value for the PVD-SiNx ring is slightly higher. Both SiNx rings lock their resonance frequencies within 100 GHz in this temperature range. Since CVD-SiNx needs a high temperature annealing to reduce N–H bond absorption, it is concluded that PVD-SiNx is suited as a MiDex material introduced in the CMOS back-end-of-line. Further stabilization is required, considering the crosstalk between two channels; a ‘silicone’ polymer is employed to compensate for the temperature fluctuation using its negative TO coefficient, called athermalization. This demonstrates that the resonance of these SiNx rings is locked within 50 GHz at the same temperature range in the wavelength range 1460–1620 nm (the so-called S, C, and L bands in optical fiber communication networks). A further survey on the MiDex materials strongly suggests that Al2O3, Ga2O3 Ta2O5, HfO2 and their alloys should provide even more stable platforms for DWDM implementation in MiDex photonics. It is discussed that the MiDex photonics will find various applications such as medical and environmental sensing and in-vehicle data-communication.

Broadband single mode SiGe graded waveguides with tight mode confinement for mid-infrared photonics

Graded Si1-xGex waveguides with tight mode confinement in a broadband range of mid-infrared wavelengths are presented. Optimum TM mode confinement is observed due to the vertical variation of the refractive index. These waveguides show good potential for implementation as passive elements in mid-infrared optical circuits where strong mode confinement is required for a broadband range of wavelengths.

Ge-rich silicon germanium as a new platform for optical interconnects on silicon

We propose germanium-rich silicon-germanium (SiGe) as a new platform for optical interconnects. The platform viability is experimentally and theoretically investigated through the realization of main building blocks of passive circuitry. Germanium-rich Si1-xGex guiding layer on a graded SiGe layer is used to experimentally show 12μm radius bends by light confinement tuning at a wavelength of 1550nm. As a next step, Mach Zehnder interferometer with 10 dB extinction ratio is demonstrated. High Ge content of the proposed platform allows the coupling with Ge-based active devices, relying on a high quality epitaxial growth. Hence, the integration on Silicon of high speed and low power consumption Ge-rich active components is possible, despite the high lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium.

Silicon germanium on graded buffer as a new platform for optical interconnects on silicon

We experimentally and theoretically investigate the use of silicon germanium (SiGe) on silicon substrate as a new platform for optical interconnects. The system composed of Germanium (Ge) rich Si1-xGex guiding layer on a graded SiGe layer is showed to be suitable for the realization of all main building blocks of passive optical circuitry. We show experimentally at a wavelength of 1550nm that sharp 12μm radius bends can be obtained by light confinement tuning. Mach-Zehnder interferometer with more than 10 dB extinction ratio is also demonstrated. Moreover, Ge-rich Si1-xGex based passive components are very interesting for their native integration with Ge-rich active optical devices. Hence, by using this new platform for optical integrated circuits, lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium is no longer a major constraint for the integration of Ge-rich active photonic components on silicon.

Ge/SiGe multiple quantum wells for photonic integrated circuits on silicon

This paper focuses on the design and experiments of Ge/SiGe QW waveguide modulators integrated on Ge-rich GeSi waveguide. This new photonic integration approach allows high bandwidth Ge-based active optical circuitry to be realized on bulk Si wafer at low temperature.

GeSi photonics for telecommunication applications

We experimentally and theoretically investigate GeSi-based photonics for future on-chip optical interconnect on bulk Silicon substrates with dense wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system. We experimentally show that Ge-rich Si1-xGex can be used as both a passive low loss waveguide and a substrate to facilitate low-temperature epitaxial growth of Ge-based active devices working at low optical loss wavelength of Ge-rich Si1-xGex waveguides. We also theoretically discussed the possibilities to realize a compact passive component based on Ge-rich Si1-xGex material system on bulk Si wafer. From simulation the system based on Ge-rich Si1-xGex waveguide and the Si1-yGey (y < x) lower cladding layer is good enough to ensure compactness of important on-chip photonic components including passive waveguide and GeSi-based array waveguide grating (AWG). The small refractive index contrast between Ge-rich Si1-xGex waveguide and the Si1-yGey lower cladding layer potentially avoid the polarization dependent loss and detrimental fabrication tolerance of WDM system. Our studies show that GeSi-based photonics could uniquely provide both passive and active functionalities for dense WDM system.

Ge/SiGe Quantum Well Optical Modulators

Ge/SiGe quantum wells structures appear as a promising solution for compact low power consumption optical modulators. The presentation will give an overview of recent results including high speed absorption and phase modulation. Article not available.