Photonics (Dec 2015)

PLAT4M: Progressing Silicon Photonics in Europe

  • Carmelo Scarcella,
  • Jun Su Lee,
  • Cormac Eason,
  • Marie Antier,
  • Jerome Bourderionnet,
  • Christian Larat,
  • Eric Lallier,
  • Arnaud Brignon,
  • Thijs Spuesens,
  • Peter Verheyen,
  • Philippe Absil,
  • Roel Baets,
  • Peter A. O‘Brien

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics3010001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
p. 1

Abstract

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Photonic integration is an appealing technology for emerging applications in communications, medical diagnostics and sensing. Silicon Photonics presents a highly attractive solution for large-scale photonic integration, principally because it is based on well-established CMOS-fabrication technologies. However, Silicon photonics can be difficult and expensive to implement, as it requires complex device design, fabrication and packaging capabilities. Photonic Libraries And Technology for Manufacturing (PLAT4M) is a major European project that brings together the key capabilities required to develop solutions for a range of Silicon photonic-based applications. This paper will present an overview of the PLAT4M project. It will present, in detail, a key application demonstrator (Coherent Beam Combiner), highlighting the ability of the project team to develop an integrated Silicon Photonic sub-system, from design, through to device fabrication, packaging and final test. The paper also highlights the need to consider additional capabilities besides device fabrication, such as packaging, which are critical to achieving fully operational sub-systems.

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