Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MILLIAMP (III-V seMiconductor on sILicon nano opticaL amplIfier for signal regenerAtion and coMPuting)
Période du rapport: 2023-07-01 au 2024-12-31
The use of Silicon photonics has been clearly identified in all roadmaps (IBM, Intel, ITRS, …) as a means to achieve the most awaited convergence of microelectronics and photonics on a chip by overcoming electrical interconnect limitations in bandwidth and power efficiency. It is even envisaged today that this technology not only will ensure communication between calculation units but also partially replace these units. To implement this paradigm change, it is crucial to meet up with the exigencies for the performance of optoelectronic devices which are extremely high in terms of compactness, power consumption and speed. Novel concepts for laser sources, optical modulators, optical amplifiers and photodetectors need to be invented.
On chip optical amplification is of utmost importance as it enables signal regeneration wherever necessary. Amplifiers are essential for propagation loss compensation, to maintain optical power after several stages of on-chip signal spitting or to boost optical power before detection. Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) have also been noticeably used as nonlinear elements with the view of processing data.
Decreasing both power consumption and footprint of optoelectronic devices has been a long-term goal for nanophotonics integrated on Silicon. In MILLIAMP, we will complete the proof of concept of a novel type of semiconductor optical amplifiers presenting performance in terms of compactness, power consumption and nonlinearity, fulfilling the needs for on chip communications and all-optical neural networks.
The project is part of the PI’s team effort to develop a full nanophotonic platform integrating lasers, amplifiers and photodetector to bring about a revolution in the Information and Communications Technologies industry.
Our objective is to explore the potentiality of our technology for future markets from the technical point of view to the commercial one with the goal to create a spin-off company.
On chip optical amplification is of utmost importance as it enables signal regeneration wherever necessary. Amplifiers are essential for propagation loss compensation, to maintain optical power after several stages of on-chip signal spitting or to boost optical power before detection. Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) have also been noticeably used as nonlinear elements with the view of processing data.
Decreasing both power consumption and footprint of optoelectronic devices has been a long-term goal for nanophotonics integrated on Silicon. In MILLIAMP, we will complete the proof of concept of a novel type of semiconductor optical amplifiers presenting performance in terms of compactness, power consumption and nonlinearity, fulfilling the needs for on chip communications and all-optical neural networks.
The project is part of the PI’s team effort to develop a full nanophotonic platform integrating lasers, amplifiers and photodetector to bring about a revolution in the Information and Communications Technologies industry.
Our objective is to explore the potentiality of our technology for future markets from the technical point of view to the commercial one with the goal to create a spin-off company.
To demonstrate the targeted SOA, activities on design, cleanroom fabrication and characterisation are implemented. Using optical simulations, a first design of the amplifier enabling efficient coupling to Silicon on Insulator waveguides was obtained. Samples were fabricated and characterised. No amplification was observed on these samples due to poor electrical injection in the active region. Indeed, this design involved the use a very thin (350nm) InP based PIN junction, thinner than previously used heterostructures. Diffusion of dopants during growth and poor contact resistance were found to be the problems. A second configuration was found using thicker III-V layers similar to the ones used for lasers. This also involved the redesigning of the Si based waveguides. The fabrication of the new Si chips is still to be made before achieving the amplifiers.
In the meantime, we decided to work on another essential optoelectronic component: an integrated photodetector. We designed, fabricated and characterised photodetectors based on compact InP-based nanocavities and microdisk resonators coupled to Si waveguides. We demonstrated photodetection with measured responsivity of about 0.4A/W and bandwidth beyond few GHz. Further simulations were carried out to improve the performance of the photodetectors.
Potential for innovation using these novels technologies was analysed in depth. Market study through interviews of key opinion leaders working for microelectronic giants and start-up companies was achieved. A business model was developed and a spin-off company, named NcodiN was incorporated. NcodiN develops an optical interposer that will interconnect electronic chiplets in advanced microprocessors.
In the meantime, we decided to work on another essential optoelectronic component: an integrated photodetector. We designed, fabricated and characterised photodetectors based on compact InP-based nanocavities and microdisk resonators coupled to Si waveguides. We demonstrated photodetection with measured responsivity of about 0.4A/W and bandwidth beyond few GHz. Further simulations were carried out to improve the performance of the photodetectors.
Potential for innovation using these novels technologies was analysed in depth. Market study through interviews of key opinion leaders working for microelectronic giants and start-up companies was achieved. A business model was developed and a spin-off company, named NcodiN was incorporated. NcodiN develops an optical interposer that will interconnect electronic chiplets in advanced microprocessors.
Novel concepts for optical amplifiers and photodetectors integrated into a Silicon photonic circuits were developed during the project. The predicted (for amplfiers) and demonstrated performance are very encouraging and show that nanophotonic can tackle issues of power consumption and footprint. The potentialities of these compact components for optical interconnects are very exciting. The spin-off company NcodiN has signed with CNRS an exclusive licence to exploit the patent related technology.