Exploring Lithium Tantalate on Insulator Photonic Integrated Circuits

• Unité de recherche: SEFRI
• Numéro de projet: 25.00103

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

Transparent ferroelectric oxide crystal with a strong 2nd-order optical nonlinearity are a paramount building block for electro-optical and nonlinear photonics bridging the electromagnetic spectrum from electrostatics and THz fields to optical frequencies. Currently, smart-cut ferroelectric thin films such are revolutionizing integrated photonics, overcoming the traditional limitations of bulk lithium niobate and silicon-on-insulator photonic integrated circuits such as low power efficiency and speed. Despite more than half a decade of tremendous scientific progress in the field, predominately using lithium niobate thin films, many technological and commercial hurdles have emerged compounding their adoption. The goal of ELLIPTIC is to overcome these limitations and to close the technology gaps that are still inherent to photonic integrated circuits based on ferroelectric thin films. LTOI will open new paradigm for nonlinear integrated photonics, based on its unique properties, such as a high optical damage threshold, reduced photorefractive effect, ultra-low optical and microwave loss and low birefringence. Moreover, LTOI leverages the existing micro-electronic manufacturing infrastructure due to its widespread adoption for 5G cellular signal filters. We will demonstrate the transformative potential of the LTOI platform for applications across various domains including optical and millimeter-wave communications, signal processing, metrology, frequency-comb generation, and quantum technologies, such as the transduction of quantum signals between superconducting microwave devices and optical fibers. The development of an process design kit (PDK) will democratize access to the technology for academia and the R&D communities.