Development and characterization of low-loss waveguides and top claddings for germanium-on-silicon mid-wave infrared integrated photonics
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We present a mid-wave infrared photonic integrated circuit platform based on germanium-on-silicon waveguides – the first to include dielectric top cladding, which improves robustness and allows for the complicated metal routing needed for practical, large-scale photonic integrated circuits. We conduct the first comprehensive review of top cladding materials for germanium-on-silicon waveguides and find that Nb 2 O 5 (loss: 3.5–4.6 dB/cm at 4.6 µm; ring resonator loaded Q >37,000 and unloaded Q >58,000) and epitaxial Si (loss: 4.1-6.3 dB/cm at 4.6 µm; ring resonator loaded Q >23,000 and unloaded Q >40,000) achieve the best results. For sensing applications, which can require waveguides exposed to the environment, we demonstrate state-of-the-art air-clad waveguides and ring resonators that achieve losses of 0.6–2.5 dB/cm for both TE and TM light and high-Q factors (loaded Q of >106,000 and unloaded Q >190,000 for TE light).
Source: Optics Express
DOI: 10.1364/oe.576679
Institution: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
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: G4158783420, EXTREMELY HIGH CONTRAST IMAGING CAPABILITIES ARE NEEDED TO DISCOVER AND CHARACTERIZE EARTH-LIKE EXOPLANETS. TO ENABLE THIS ADAPTIVE OPTICS TECHNOLOGY IS USED TO CORRECT FOR WAVEFRONT DISTORTIONS CAUSED BY THERMAL AND MECHANICAL EFFECTS ON THE SPACECRAFT. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO ADVANCE ADAPTIVE OPTICS TECHNOLOGY FOR SPACE TELESCOPES BY IMPLEMENTING NEW WAVEFRONT SENSING AND CONTROL ALGORITHMS AND ANALYZING FLIGHT DATA FROM ON ORBIT ON ORBIT TESTING WITH THE DEFORMABLE MIRROR (DEMI) CUBESAT MISSION IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF THE TECHNOLOGY IN SPACE.
OpenAlex ID: W4414537230