Silicon Photonic Technology for Next Generation Compute Applications

High performance optical switching is required for a number of current and future applications of photonics. In this project a two novel routes to achieve low power optical switching in silicon are being developed. The first is based upon a MEMS actuated slot waveguide structure which harnesses the high sensitivity of the waveguides effective index to its slot width which is changeable upon the application of an electric field. The second approach is based upon a multi-pass waveguide which uses the same modulation region for multiple passes of the light in order to shorten the device and reduce power consumption.