Reconfigurable Cellular Photonic Crystal Arrays (RCPA)

Abstract : This AFOSR-supported research was started in July 2009 and is directed toward the development of a new technology platform for optical and microwave signal processing based on reconfigurable integrated optics devices. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the design circle of optical and high frequency RF systems by providing a common platform for a diverse range of applications. We expect that the impact of the proposed platform in the related fields to be similar to that of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) on digital signal processing and digital IC design. The main idea behind RCPA's design is to implement a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) optical processing block that can be adjusted to realize any desired transfer function matrix that lies within the limits defined by the system specifications. The proposed architecture for the RCPA is based on tunable cross-connected element matrices at the input and output and an array of processing unit cells. The proposed architecture will be realized on silicon-on-isolator (SOI) platforms by using coupled micro-resonator and waveguide structures as primary building elements. The basic tunability in the device will be implemented using tunable phase-shifter and couplers based on the thermo-optic effect and free carrier injection. To achieve this goal, in what follows, different steps (including theoretical and modeling tools development, microcavity fabrication and characterization techniques, and methods to develop chip-scale devices) will be presented in detail, with the idea being to address the several challenges before the realization of RCPA chips in both the architecture and device level. Our research in this field has already resulted in a number of scientific publications and technical presentations. A complete list of journal papers and conference presentations is included at the end of this report. AFOSR support has been acknowledged in all these publications and presentations.

[1]  A. Atabaki,et al.  Tunable narrowband filters based on SiN-on-SOI platform , 2012, IEEE Photonics Conference 2012.

[2]  A. Atabaki,et al.  Multi-Layer Material Platforms for Reconfigurable Nanophotonic Structures , 2012 .

[3]  A. Atabaki,et al.  Resonator-based Multichannel DQPSK Optical Modulator on SOI Platform , 2012 .

[4]  A. Atabaki,et al.  Low-Power Modulation by Dynamic Control of High-Q Microresonator-Waveguide Coupling , 2012 .

[5]  A. Adibi,et al.  Unified approach to mode splitting and scattering loss in high-Q whispering-gallery-mode microresonators , 2012, 1205.4448.

[6]  A. Adibi,et al.  Azimuthal-order variations of surface-roughness-induced mode splitting and scattering loss in high-Q microdisk resonators. , 2012, Optics letters.

[7]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Self-sustained gigahertz electronic oscillations in ultrahigh-Q photonic microresonators , 2012 .

[8]  Yonghui Tian,et al.  Ultra-low-power carrier-depletion Mach-Zehnder silicon optical modulator. , 2012, Optics express.

[9]  A. Atabaki,et al.  Demonstration of wavelength conversion in a reconfigurable coupled resonator in silicon , 2011, IEEE Photonic Society 24th Annual Meeting.

[10]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Optimization of filter architecture for high-order RF-photonic filters on SOI , 2011, IEEE Photonic Society 24th Annual Meeting.

[11]  Dong Hun Kim,et al.  On-chip optical isolation in monolithically integrated non-reciprocal optical resonators , 2011 .

[12]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Comparison of Cascade, Baseline, and Lattice Architectures for Ultra-Compact RF Photonic Filters on SOI , 2011 .

[13]  Chao Li,et al.  Bi-wavelength two dimensional chirped grating couplers for low cost WDM PON transceivers , 2011 .

[14]  C K Madsen,et al.  Fully reconfigurable compact RF photonic filters using high-Q silicon microdisk resonators , 2011, 2011 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition and the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference.

[15]  Siva Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Compact fully reconfigurable multi-stage RF photonic filters using high-Q silicon microdisk resonators , 2010, 7th IEEE International Conference on Group IV Photonics.

[16]  B. Momeni,et al.  Athermal performance in high-Q polymer-clad silicon microdisk resonators. , 2010, Optics letters.

[17]  A Adibi,et al.  A Temperature-Insensitive Third-Order Coupled-Resonator Filter for On-Chip Terabit/s Optical Interconnects , 2010, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[18]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Toward ultimate miniaturization of high Q silicon traveling-wave microresonators. , 2010, Optics express.

[19]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Optimization of metallic microheaters for high-speed reconfigurable silicon photonics. , 2010, Optics express.

[20]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Low-Loss Microdisk-Based Delay Lines for Narrowband Optical Filters , 2010, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[21]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Novel micro-heater structure for low-power and fast photonic reconfiguration , 2010, CLEO/QELS: 2010 Laser Science to Photonic Applications.

[22]  Siva Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Tuning of resonance-spacing in a traveling-wave resonator device. , 2010, Optics express.

[23]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Quantitative modeling of coupling-induced resonance frequency shift in microring resonators. , 2009, Optics Express.

[24]  B. Momeni,et al.  Athermal operation in polymer-clad silicon microdisk resonators , 2009, 2009 IEEE LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings.

[25]  B. Momeni,et al.  Integrated photonic crystal spectrometers for sensing applications , 2009 .

[26]  B. Momeni,et al.  Temperature-insensitive silicon microdisk resonators using polymeric cladding layers , 2009, 2009 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and 2009 Conference on Quantum electronics and Laser Science Conference.

[27]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Sub-wavelength imaging of optical modes on silicon microdisk cavities using a near-field probing technique , 2009, 2009 IEEE/LEOS Winter Topicals Meeting Series.

[28]  S. Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Ultra-High Quality Factor Silicon Nitride Planar Microdisk Resonators for Integrated Photonics in the Visible Range , 2008 .

[29]  Siva Yegnanarayanan,et al.  Silicon nanophotonic devices for integrated sensing , 2009 .