Stable non-volatile phase modulation with antimony-based phase shifter on a broadband silicon nitride platform
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Silicon-based photonics is a leading platform for scalable and low-power photonic integrated circuits (PICs). However, conventional modulation methods suffer from high power consumption and volatility, particularly when using the silicon nitride platform. Phase change materials (PCMs) provide a compelling alternative, enabling nonvolatile and low-loss switching with a high refractive index contrast (Δn). In this work, we demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the integration of an n-doped polysilicon microheater to induce phase transitions in antimony selenide (Sb 2 Se 3 ) on a silicon nitride (SiN x ) platform in the C-band. The device utilizes controlled electrical pulses to achieve a phase shift of 0.43π by switching Sb 2 Se 3 between its amorphous and crystalline states over 7900 cycles, with an extinction ratio of up to 12.5 dB and a variation of ±1.9 dB over the entire 7900 cycles. These results highlight the potential scalability of this approach for broadband photonic switching applications that require nonvolatile functionality.
Source: Optics Express
DOI: 10.1364/oe.575054
Authors: Afrooz Shoaa, Qianbin Luo, Thalia Dominguez Bucio, Mehdi Banakar, Isaac Johnson, Elliot Sandell, Joaquin Faneca, Ioannis Zeimpekis, Frederic Gardes
Institution: Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona
Language: English
Topic: Photonic and Optical Devices
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,270
Awards: Energy- and Size-efficient Ultra-fast Plasmonic Circuits for Neuromorphic Computing Architectures, A Photonic-Electronic non-von Neumann Processor Core for Highly Efficient Computing (APT-NuCOM), G2040135397, G4209788619, G434337789, G5418665828, Optical circuit switched time sensitive network architecture for high-speed passive optical networks and next generation ultra-dynamic and reconfigurable central office environments, A Multiplexed Plasmo-Photonic Biosensing Platform For Rapid And Intelligent Sepsis Diagnosis At The Point-Of-Care, G7017804570, G7954665161
OpenAlex ID: W4414269059