Project description
Many applications from membrane-on-silicon technology
Photonic technology applications are ubiquitous but there is a growing need for improved energy efficiency, more precision and higher performance. Photonic integration could be the solution. However, connector-less communications and sensor circuits need chip scale solutions, which are non-existent in fibre optic systems. Indium phosphide membrane on silicon (IMOS) is the answer. It allows the combination of a wide range of processes such as nanophotonics and photonic integration. The EU-funded IMOS4ALL project will apply the most inclusive set of high-performance building blocks to deliver an open-access platform to designers of circuits.
Objective
Photonic technologies are key enablers for high-speed, on-demand communications, precision sensors, imaging and metrology. Industry roadmapping initiatives are now showing a clear and pressing need for miniaturising photonics solutions across market segments with sustained improvements in energy-efficiency, precision and performance. Photonic integration can meet these challenges, and has been convincingly demonstrated in fiber optic systems, but there is an absence of chip scale solutions for connectorless communications and sensor circuits requiring optical wireless connectivity. The necessary combination of high-performance optoelectronics, photonics integration, and chip-scale beam forming is not available to the industry.
IMOS – Indium Phosphide membrane on Silicon enables the combination of nanophotonics, photonic integration, lasers, amplifiers and the highest efficiency electro-optic processes. Integrated nanophotonics offers a route to exquisite optical beam control within the chip, and removes the need for fiber optic connectivity, micro-mechanical-assemblies and off-chip optics. The ERC project NoLimits has pioneered a nanophotonic platform which additionally integrates lasers, semiconductor optical amplifiers, high performance detectors and low-loss, fabrication-tolerant surface grating technologies. The IMOS4ALL program will implement the most comprehensive set of active and nanophotonic building blocks as created in the ERC project NoLimits and make them available within one wafer scale process and valid the platform with industry-inspired circuits. The free placement of standard high-performance building blocks enables the project to deliver an open-access platform where designers configure circuits to enable new and unanticipated circuits. The platform approach also enables the integration of a pipeline of future high-performance building blocks for future technology nodes.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibers
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynanophotonics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotHost institution
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands