NAVISP EL1-081bis: Lithium Niobate Photonic Integrated Circuit based High Speed, Low Voltage Modulators for Microwave Photonics

Last Updated: 02/12/2025 08:14     Created at: 02/12/2025 08:12

On 25 November 2025, Imec and the Photonics Research Group at Ghent University presented the outcomes of their project on high-speed electro-optic modulation using lithium niobate (LN) integrated with silicon photonics. The project aimed to improve data transmission technologies by combining the properties of LN with silicon photonics platforms.

The team developed a hybrid platform, where LN modulators were integrated onto silicon wafers using micro-transfer printing techniques. This approach enabled the demonstration of high-speed optical links, with measured data rates up to 320 Gbit/s and energy efficiency of 4 pJ/bit. The process also allowed for the integration of patterned LN waveguides and high-speed germanium photodetectors, supporting a range of applications in communications and signal processing.

The results have been shared at several international forums, including a presentation at CLEO 2025, an accepted paper at Nature Photonics, and an upgraded presentation at ECOC 2025.

Future work is expected to focus on further process optimisation, device performance improvements, and exploration of new applications in timing, navigation, and quantum technologies. 

This project was fully funded by NAVISP Element 1, focused on driving new PNT innovations. The slides are available here.