Project description
Breakthrough circuits could programme light-sound interactions
When light and sound strongly interact, via the so-called stimulated Brillouin scattering, a new range of applications opens up, like lasers with very narrow linewidth and ultra-high-resolution signal processing. Such applications are currently impeded by fundamental challenges associated with materials, such as silicon nitride, that cannot carry sound waves and where optical forces are very weak. The EU-funded TRIFFIC project will develop a new class of acoustic sources much more powerful than the optical forces in silicon nitride. Researchers will then build an advanced 3D integrated circuit that brings together light and sound waves. With this entirely new circuit, they will show for the first time that interactions between light and sound can also be programmed, just like for electronic circuits.
Objective
The coherent optomechanical interaction between acoustic and optical waves known as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) can enable ultra-high resolution signal processing and narrow linewidth lasers important for next-generation wireless communications, precision sensing, quantum information processing, and many more. But the proliferation of such a unique and powerful technology is currently impeded by fundamental challenges associated with circuit integration of Brillouin optomechanics in a versatile and mass producible material platform such as silicon nitride. The absence of acoustic guiding and the infinitesimal photo-elastic response of standard silicon nitride devices render conventional SBS in this material platform currently out of reach. An innovative approach that breaks with usual paradigms of actuating SBS solely through optical forces in two-dimensional waveguiding circuit is required to overcome these fundamental limitations.
The TRIFFIC project aims to actuate and subsequently functionalize SBS in silicon nitride through three-dimensional (3D) integration of gigahertz acoustic wave sources and waveguides with low loss optical circuits. The two orders of magnitude SBS gain enhancement expected from this project will unlock Brillouin optomechanics in silicon nitride circuits for the first time. Using this novel 3D optomechanical platform, I aim to demonstrate a revolutionary concept of on-demand and programmable optomechanics that will transform the field of RF photonics by providing an advanced signal processor with comprehensive spectral control beyond what is currently possible. Further, I will demonstrate Hz-linewidth integrated SBS lasers in the red and blue visible wavelengths that can be integrated with future portable optical atomic clocks and trapped ion quantum computers.
The ERC Consolidator will be instrumental for me to achieve these ambitious research objectives that will enable the optomechanics revolution in integrated optics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics cavity optomechanics
- social sciences political sciences political transitions revolutions
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands
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