Silicon Processors Using Organically Reconfigurable Techniques (SPORT)

The development of reconfigurable photonic circuitry has been pursued using Silicon waveguide networks, PIN diode-actuated photonic crystal switches, and low-voltage, high-frequency EO modulators based on organic materials. Processing advancements in these materials, such as a solution poling method SPARC offer new device formats, manufacturable processing, and decreased drive voltages. A proof-of-concept device architecture was fabricated and indicated that SPARC processing may afford deposition, poling and patterning OEOM waveguides in a single step. An all-polymer waveguide phase modulator was fabricated with Vpi 1.67 V using 16 mm electrodes, and was found to be stable over 2,500 mWxhr of 1550 nm irradiation at 25 deg C in air. Dual-slot hybrid siliconorganic modulators in two architectures, both vertical and horizontal, have been fabricated. The vertical configuration modulator has yielded a Vpi x L 0.33 Vxcm. An etch-based process for producing nanoscale slot modulators was developed. A reconfigurable photonic switch network was produced, resulting in a 32 micron slow light-based photonic crystal switch with a group index of 92, maintaining bandwidth for data rates exceeding 350 Gbs. Switches were fabricated with PIN diodes for actuation, showing reconfiguration speeds with rise and fall times of 14 ns and 11 ns respectively.