Abstract

Photonic integrated circuits are chips that manipulate optical signals through networks of optical waveguides and active opto-electronci components. These chips are rapidly becoming more programmable, allowing users to define or customize the functionality. We discuss this emerging technology field, with recent developments in building blocks, circuit architectures, electronic control and new programming strategies. We cover applications in linear matrix operations, quantum information processing and microwave photonics, and how generic photonic chips can radically accelerate adoption in new applications.

Related Research Topics

• Reconfigurable Photonic Circuits

Related Projects

• H2020: MORPHIC (MEMS-based zerO-power Reconfigurable Photonic ICs)
• ERC-CoG: PhotonicSWARM (Photonic Integrated Circuits using Scattered Waveguide elements in an Adaptive, Reconfigurable Mesh.)
• FWO: G020421N - GRAPHSPAY (Global Routing And Programming Heuristics for Silicon Photonics Adaptive circuitrY)
• FWO: G031421N - MALEPHICENT (MAchine Learning to Engineer Photonic Integrated Circuits for ENhanced Tolerance)
• AFOSR: PhotonMolecule (Programmable Photonic Molecules)
• Horizon Europe: PHORMIC (Wafer-scale platform for Photonic Programmable Multipurpose Integrated Circuits)
• AFOSR: POLCA (Programmable Optics with Liquid Crystal Active functions)
• FWO: GLIMWASP (General-purpose LIght and MicroWave Analog Signal Processor (G0ACJ25N))