Oct 5 2010
CEA-Leti has demonstrated the integration of silicon photonic instruments with plasmonic optical waveguides that are compatible with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The integration enables the fabrication of more efficient, faster and smaller opto-electronic interfaces. The interfaces will enable the development of computer chips, high-performance sensors and other electronic units.
Waveguides that include optical fibers are utilized for transmitting power and signals for various uses in optical and radio communications. The new instruments light through a silicon waveguide that is placed closely to a metal waveguide, allowing the light to stimulate electromagnetic waves in the metallic structures. The electromagnetic waves are also known as surface plasmons. The resulting instruments can convert the optical signals into the plasmonic electron waves. The instruments can also convert the plasmonic waves into optical signals.
The integration of tiny plasmonic-optical interfaces, which link to the optical fibers, offers higher coupling efficiencies over a diverse spectral range. The metal waveguides from Leti are fabricated by using copper. The copper enables the metal waveguides to be conveniently integrated with CMOS chip developing processes.
Leti designed and fabricated the plasmonic-optical instruments. The company collaborated with the Université de Technologie de Troyes for near-field scanning optical microscope characterization and testing.