Nonvolatile photonic field-programmable coupler array

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• Programmable photonic networks are crucial for universal unitary functions, impacting areas like microwave photonics, photonic computing, and optical communications.
• Current technologies suffer from large footprints and continuous power consumption due to low modulation efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel programmable photonic network unit cell.
• To overcome the limitations of existing photonic systems by reducing footprint and power consumption.

Main Methods:

• Development of a programmable recirculating mesh unit cell.
• Utilizing the nonvolatile, low-loss phase-change material Sb2Se3.
• Device fabrication and characterization for performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Achieved an ultrashort active device length (<10 μm), significantly smaller than current technologies.
• Demonstrated zero static power consumption for maintaining configured states.
• Exhibited high-extinction switching (>20 dB), broadband operation (>15 nm), and low insertion loss (<2 dB).

Conclusions:

• The developed Sb2Se3-based unit cell offers a pathway to nonvolatile field-programmable coupler arrays (nv-FPCAs).
• This technology enables the creation of zero-static power reconfigurable optical interconnects, advancing photonic systems.