Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate

Abstract We explore the use of micro-transfer printing (µTP) technology to integrate thin lithium niobate (LN) films onto silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides, facilitating the development of compact electro-optical modulators. Three modulator architectures are investigated: Mach-Zehnder interferometer...

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Main Authors: S. Hadi Badri, Maria V. Kotlyar, Risov Das, Yeasir Arafat, Owen Moynihan, Brian Corbett, Liam O’Faolain, Samir Ghosh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95397-w
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author S. Hadi Badri
Maria V. Kotlyar
Risov Das
Yeasir Arafat
Owen Moynihan
Brian Corbett
Liam O’Faolain
Samir Ghosh
author_facet S. Hadi Badri
Maria V. Kotlyar
Risov Das
Yeasir Arafat
Owen Moynihan
Brian Corbett
Liam O’Faolain
Samir Ghosh
author_sort S. Hadi Badri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We explore the use of micro-transfer printing (µTP) technology to integrate thin lithium niobate (LN) films onto silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides, facilitating the development of compact electro-optical modulators. Three modulator architectures are investigated: Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), Fabry-Perot (FP) resonator, and side-coupled FP resonators. By acting as a photonic molecule, the proposed coupled FP resonators enable improved spectral engineering with new functionalities while maximizing the transmission and quality-factor (Q-factor) of the resonances. Design, simulations, fabrication method, and experimental results are presented, demonstrating the potential of µTP in advancing electro-optical modulators. The half-wave voltage-length product (V π L) of the fabricated devices decreases as the Q-factor increases achieving V π L = 10.5, 4.3, and 2.74 V.cm for MZI, FP, and photonic molecule modulators, respectively.
format Article
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issn 2045-2322
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-d6397d44f95e437eaf51baa30a9543712025-08-20T03:07:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-95397-wCompact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobateS. Hadi Badri0Maria V. Kotlyar1Risov Das2Yeasir Arafat3Owen Moynihan4Brian Corbett5Liam O’Faolain6Samir Ghosh7Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis, Munster Technological UniversityCentre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis, Munster Technological UniversityTyndall National InstituteTyndall National InstituteTyndall National InstituteTyndall National InstituteCentre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis, Munster Technological UniversityTyndall National InstituteAbstract We explore the use of micro-transfer printing (µTP) technology to integrate thin lithium niobate (LN) films onto silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides, facilitating the development of compact electro-optical modulators. Three modulator architectures are investigated: Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), Fabry-Perot (FP) resonator, and side-coupled FP resonators. By acting as a photonic molecule, the proposed coupled FP resonators enable improved spectral engineering with new functionalities while maximizing the transmission and quality-factor (Q-factor) of the resonances. Design, simulations, fabrication method, and experimental results are presented, demonstrating the potential of µTP in advancing electro-optical modulators. The half-wave voltage-length product (V π L) of the fabricated devices decreases as the Q-factor increases achieving V π L = 10.5, 4.3, and 2.74 V.cm for MZI, FP, and photonic molecule modulators, respectively.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95397-w
spellingShingle S. Hadi Badri
Maria V. Kotlyar
Risov Das
Yeasir Arafat
Owen Moynihan
Brian Corbett
Liam O’Faolain
Samir Ghosh
Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
Scientific Reports
title Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
title_full Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
title_fullStr Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
title_full_unstemmed Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
title_short Compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro-transfer printing of thin-film lithium niobate
title_sort compact modulators on silicon nitride waveguide platform via micro transfer printing of thin film lithium niobate
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95397-w
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