Advanced Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems for Elastic Optical Telecommunications Networks

PROJECT COST:

1 276 094 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

255 218 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

The emergence of new digital services driven by advances in artificial intelligence and the development of the Internet of Things requires a continuous increase in the capacity of networks and data centers. Optical technologies have demonstrated their ability to create multi-terabit links in long-distance networks. However, these technologies are too expensive to be deployed in short-range networks.

To reduce the costs of optical technologies, the team led by Professors Ménard (UQAM) and Nabki (ÉTS) has been collaborating with AEPONYX for the past four years to develop a new silicon photonic microfabrication platform that integrates microelectromechanical actuators and silicon nitride-based optical waveguides.

This work resulted in the demonstration of a new optical switch. However, it also highlighted challenges and opportunities for improving the platform. The proposed project will explore how the packaging of integrated optical chips can be facilitated by implementing new features on the platform.

In addition, it will investigate how to leverage the platform’s capabilities to create new optical filters that are tunable in both bandwidth and center wavelength, which are building blocks for future elastic optical networks.

Those trained through this research program will acquire advanced design and microfabrication skills. This project will contribute to the training of one research assistant, three postdoctoral researchers, four doctoral students, two master’s students, and four undergraduate students.