Investigation of micro- and nano-scale germanium-tin light sources towards realizing photonic-integrated circuits

• Main Author: Kim, Youngmin
• Other Authors: Nam Donguk
• Format: Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Optics, optoelectronics, photonics; Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Semiconductors; Engineering::Nanotechnology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/171485
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Integrated photonics technology has emerged as the most promising approach for developing a reliable quantum computer that is capable of practical use. In particular, integrated photonics enables the assembly of millions of quantum photonic devices on a compact chip, which is critical for improving computational capability. The essential functions of an integrated photonic chip involve generating, guiding, manipulating, modulating, and detecting photons. However, one key component, an on-chip light source, is currently missing from the fully functional photonic-integrated chips. The difficulty in developing on-chip light sources stems from the fact that the materials used in mature Si technology, such as Si, Ge, SiNX, and SiOX are unsuitable for photon generation. In this thesis, we will focus on developing light sources using GeSn alloys that are compatible with mature Si technology for the realization of an efficient on-chip light source.