Author

Liang Cao

Abstract

Silicon photonic has provided an opportunity to enhance future processor speed by replacing copper interconnects with an on chip optical network. Although photonics are supposed to be efficient in terms of power consumption, speed, and bandwidth, the existing silicon photonic technologies involve problems limiting their efficiency. Examples of limitations to efficiency are transmission loss, coupling loss, modulation speed limited by electro-optical effect, large amount of energy required for thermal control of devices, and the bandwidth limit of existing optical routers. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate novel materials and methods to enhance the efficiency of silicon photonic devices. The first part of this dissertation covers the background, theory and design of on chip optical interconnects, specifically silicon photonic interconnects. The second part describes the work done to build a 300mm silicon photonic library, including its process flow, comprised of basic elements like electro-optical modulators, germanium detectors, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) interconnects, and a high efficiency grating coupler. The third part shows the works done to increase the efficiency of silicon photonic modulators, unitizing the χ(3) nonlinear effect of silicon nanocrystals to make DC Kerr effect electro-optical modulator, combining silicon with lithium niobate to make χ(2) electro-optical modulators on silicon, and increasing the efficiency of thermal control by incorporating micro-oven structures in electro-optical modulators. The fourth part introduces work done on dynamic optical interconnects including a broadband optical router, single photon level adiabatic wavelength conversion, and optical signal delay. The final part summarizes the work and talks about future development.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Networks on a chip--Design and construction; Optical data processing; Photonics--Materials; Silicon--Optical properties

Publication Date

3-7-2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Microsystems Engineering (Ph.D.)

Department, Program, or Center

Microsystems Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Stefan F. Preble

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at TK5015.546 .C36 2014

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

MCSE-PHD

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