Silicon Photonics

Level: Introductory Length: 4 hours Format: In-Person Lecture Intended Audience: This material is intended for anyone who needs to learn how to design integrated optical systems on a silicon platform. Those who either design their own photonic devices or who work with engineers and scientists will find this course valuable. Description: Silicon Microphotonics is a platform for the large scale integration of CMOS electronics with photonic components. This course will evaluate the most promising silicon optical components and the path to electronic-photonic integration. The subjects will be presented in two parts: 1) Context: a review of optical interconnection and the enabling solutions that arise from integrating optical and electronic devices at a micron-scale, using thin film processing; and 2) Technology: case studies in High Index Contrast design for silicon-based waveguides, filters, photodetectors, modulators, laser devices, and an application-specific opto-electronic circuit. The course objective is an overview of the silicon microphotonic platform drivers and barriers in design or fabrication. Learning Outcomes: This course will enable you to: - explain how the electronic, thermal and mechanical constraints of planar integration promote silicon as the optimal platform for microphotonics - design application-specific photonic devices that take advantage of unique materials processing and device design solutions - judge the feasibility and impact of the latest silicon photonic devices - identify trends in optical interconnection and the power of electronic-photonic convergence - compute the performance of micron-scale optically passive/active devices Instructor(s): Sajan Saini received his doctoral degree in materials science at MIT in 2004, during which he investigated materials and device designs for optically pumped waveguide amplifiers in silicon microphotonics. Sajan has worked with the MIT Microphotonics Center as a postdoctoral associate; he has also been a professor with the physics department at Queens College of CUNY (City University of New York), and lectured with the writing program at Princeton University. In addition to running a graduate research program on nanostructured materials, he has taught courses on photonics, introductory quantum physics, general astronomy, scientific writing, graphic novels and science-fiction, and climate science communications. At AIM Photonics Academy, Sajan oversees the production of all teaching and learning materials, including online modules, certification courses, and Summer Academy offerings. He has taught at SPIE Photonics West, co-authored several patents, and his scientific and science writings have appeared in IEEE and APL publications, book chapters, and Harper’s Magazine. Jifeng Liu is a Professor and the Program Area Lead of Materials Science and Engineering at Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. His major research field is photonic materials and devices for communication, sensing, and energy applications. Prof. Liu is best known for his pioneering work on germanium and germanium tin active photonic materials and devices integrated on silicon. He has authored or coauthored >100 peer-reviewed journal papers, >80 conferences papers, and 8 book chapters, which have been cited >14,000 times according to Google Scholar. He has also been granted 20 U.S. patents. Prof. Liu is a Fellow of Optica. He was a General Co-Chair of 2023 IEEE Silicon Photonics Conference, and a Program Co-Chair of the Science & Innovation Program for 2024 Conference of Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO). Prof. Liu also served as the Primary Guest Editor for IEEE Journal of Selected Topics on Quantum Electronics in editing the Special Issue on “SiGeSn Infrared Photonics and Quantum Electronics”. Event: SPIE Photonics West 2025 Course Held: 27 January 2025