Middle-Infrared Si-photonics for Integrated Microwave Photonics

Abstract

This project proposes to conduct an innovative basic research to investigate the feasibility of obtaining a fully Integrated Microwave Photonics (IMWP) platform on Si substrate. The proposed IMWP solution leverages the mature Si-photonics technology and also embraces the newly developed Si based GeSn lasers to offer a complete set of components with light source, analog signal processing, light detection, Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) control circuits, and SiGe Radio-Frequency (RF) circuits all-in-one silicon platform to achieve high-performance low-cost mixed-signal optical links. With the recent demonstration of close-to-room-temperature GeSn lasers reported by the team and expected high performance on-chip GeSn laser coming along in the near future, this forward looking project is designated to study technical barriers other than GeSn on-chip lasers for the integration but centralized upon the GeSn technology, namely: i) low loss waveguide based passive devices, ii) the high performancemodulation technology, iii) the high frequency/high power photodetectors, iv) the selective growthtechnique, and v) the possible integration strategy. With a clear targeted IMWP application forDepartment of Defense (DOD), this project intents to answer the following basic research questions: i) Would middle-wave infrared (mid-IR) Si-photonics be the choice to meet the need for future IMWP applications? ii) How the SiGeSn technology would enable the platform to be developed? iii) What are the expected ultimate performance and its killer application for this platform? A well-integrated research plan is proposed in the project, which includes the following FIVE tasks: i) Evaluating the basic characteristics passive device building blocks; ii) Evaluating and developing integrated modulators; iii) Developing GeSn based high speed, high power, and wave guided coupled detectors; iv) Developing integration technology; and v) Integration function demo.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 11, 2018
Source ID
FA95501810361

Entities

People

  • Mansour Mortazavi

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • University of Arkansas System

Tags

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Research Science/Academic Research

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics