We propose to develop tunable, high-power handling, low-loss phase-to-amplitude conversion photonic-integrated circuit (PIC) based device on heterogeneous SiN platform. The use of SiN for waveguide is the key to meet the stringent requirements, while additional heterogeneously integrated components are the key to enable tuning and locking of the phase-to-amplitude device. Nexus Photonics, realizing the power of the SiN for photonic integrated circuits, has developed proprietary heterogeneous integration supporting wafer-scale fabrication of GaAs and InP actives efficiently optically coupled with high-performance SiN waveguides, and we propose to leverage our technology to develop tunable phase-to-amplitude conversion PIC with fully-integrated on-chip control elements.
Benefit: The proposed effort is targeted to address the needs of Navy as outlined in call for proposals, but we identified additional commercial opportunities including various RF photonics and coherent communication links as well as tunable delays to be deployed in next generation quantum systems. Nexus plans on transitioning developed product to a US-based foundry to support mass fabrication.
Keywords: SiN photonics, SiN photonics, Heterogeneous Integration, CMOS photonics, integrated photonic circuit
