Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators

Programmable photonic integrated circuits are expected to play an increasingly important role in enabling high-bandwidth optical interconnects and large-scale in-memory computing as needed to support the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. To that end, chalcogenide-based...

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Main Authors: Jayita Dutta, Rui Chen, Virat Tara, Arka Majumdar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-02-01
Series:APL Photonics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0236098
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author Jayita Dutta
Rui Chen
Virat Tara
Arka Majumdar
author_facet Jayita Dutta
Rui Chen
Virat Tara
Arka Majumdar
author_sort Jayita Dutta
collection DOAJ
description Programmable photonic integrated circuits are expected to play an increasingly important role in enabling high-bandwidth optical interconnects and large-scale in-memory computing as needed to support the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. To that end, chalcogenide-based non-volatile phase-change materials (PCMs) present a promising solution due to zero static power. However, high switching voltage and a small number of operating levels present serious roadblocks to the widespread adoption of PCM-programmable units. Here, we demonstrate an electrically programmable wide bandgap Sb2S3-clad silicon ring resonator using a silicon microheater at a complementary-metal–oxide–semiconductor compatible voltage of <3 V. Our device shows a low switching energy of 35.33 nJ (0.48 mJ) for amorphization (crystallization) and reversible phase transitions with high endurance (>2000 switching events) near 1550 nm. Combining a volatile thermo-optic effect with non-volatile PCMs, we demonstrate 7-bit (127 levels) operation with excellent repeatability and reduced power consumption. Our demonstration of low-voltage and low-energy operation, combined with the hybrid volatile–nonvolatile approach, marks a significant step toward integrating PCM-based programmable units in large-scale optical interconnects.
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spelling doaj-art-aef53e1f271047ce9129a84cde376ac82025-08-20T02:02:01ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672025-02-01102020803020803-910.1063/5.0236098Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonatorsJayita Dutta0Rui Chen1Virat Tara2Arka Majumdar3Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAProgrammable photonic integrated circuits are expected to play an increasingly important role in enabling high-bandwidth optical interconnects and large-scale in-memory computing as needed to support the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. To that end, chalcogenide-based non-volatile phase-change materials (PCMs) present a promising solution due to zero static power. However, high switching voltage and a small number of operating levels present serious roadblocks to the widespread adoption of PCM-programmable units. Here, we demonstrate an electrically programmable wide bandgap Sb2S3-clad silicon ring resonator using a silicon microheater at a complementary-metal–oxide–semiconductor compatible voltage of <3 V. Our device shows a low switching energy of 35.33 nJ (0.48 mJ) for amorphization (crystallization) and reversible phase transitions with high endurance (>2000 switching events) near 1550 nm. Combining a volatile thermo-optic effect with non-volatile PCMs, we demonstrate 7-bit (127 levels) operation with excellent repeatability and reduced power consumption. Our demonstration of low-voltage and low-energy operation, combined with the hybrid volatile–nonvolatile approach, marks a significant step toward integrating PCM-based programmable units in large-scale optical interconnects.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0236098
spellingShingle Jayita Dutta
Rui Chen
Virat Tara
Arka Majumdar
Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
APL Photonics
title Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
title_full Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
title_fullStr Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
title_full_unstemmed Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
title_short Low-power quasi-continuous hybrid volatile/nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
title_sort low power quasi continuous hybrid volatile nonvolatile tuning of ring resonators
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0236098
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