Multi-Layer Optical Interposer for Low-Loss Photonic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating passive and active photonic integrated circuits and other optical and electrical components into quantum computing systems is challenging due to high optical losses and scalability issues, making it difficult to reliably generate, manipulate, and detect entangled qubit states.
Innovation Solution
An optical interposer with multi-layer coupled waveguides is used, featuring monotonically varying layer separations and thicknesses, with waveguides partially overlapping to reduce optical losses and improve coupling efficiency between photonic integrated circuits and optical fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional single-layer waveguide structures are used, then the device complexity is low, but optical losses are high and coupling efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional single-layer waveguide structures to multi-layer waveguide structures with three or more layers at different vertical positions. This dimensional expansion allows optical modes to couple between layers through partial overlap, reducing optical losses while distributing the complexity across multiple manageable layers rather than a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide layers are nested vertically within the oxide layer, with each layer containing waveguides that partially overlap with adjacent layers. This nesting arrangement enables efficient optical coupling between layers while maintaining a compact overall structure, addressing the contradiction between reducing optical losses and maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If photonic integrated circuits are integrated into quantum computing systems, then system functionality is improved, but scalability issues and reliability problems arise due to high optical losses
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing multiple vertical layers of waveguides, the patent creates additional coupling pathways between photonic integrated circuits. This multi-layer approach reduces optical losses through improved mode matching and coupling efficiency, thereby enhancing the reliability of qubit state generation, manipulation, and detection in quantum computing systems.
3Loss of energy
If waveguide thickness is increased, then optical confinement is improved, but coupling efficiency between layers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different waveguide thicknesses to different layers, with each layer's waveguides optimized for its specific position and function. This local optimization allows each layer to achieve adequate optical confinement while maintaining the ability to couple efficiently with adjacent layers, resolving the contradiction between confinement and coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies waveguide parameters including thickness, width, and vertical positioning across multiple layers. By changing these parameters monotonically across layers, the patent achieves both sufficient optical confinement within each layer and effective coupling between layers, addressing the contradiction between confinement loss and coupling efficiency.
4Manufacturing precision
If monotonically varying layer separations are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs monotonically varying layer separations where the distance between adjacent waveguide layers changes systematically across the structure. This monotonic variation simplifies manufacturing by providing a clear fabrication gradient, improving alignment precision while the systematic nature of the variation prevents excessive complexity in the overall device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical interposer provides low-loss optical delays and high-density interconnects, reducing overall optical losses and enabling efficient generation, manipulation, and detection of entangled qubit states.
Implementation Method 1
An optical interposer with multi-layer coupled waveguides is used, featuring monotonically varying layer separations and thicknesses, with waveguides partially overlapping to reduce optical losses and improve coupling efficiency between photonic integrated circuits and optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interposer includes multi-layer coupled waveguides for optically coupling between photonic integrated circuit devices, providing low-loss optical delays, coupling photons (e.g., qubit states) between photonic integrated circuits and optical fibers, and the like. In some embodiments, the multi-layer coupled waveguides form a multi-layer waveguide structure with monotonically varying layer separations and waveguide thicknesses. In some embodiments, a waveguide device that includes an oxide layer and zero or more waveguide layers in the oxide layer may be bonded to the optical interposer, where optical fields of the guided modes of the waveguides in the optical interposer can extend to the waveguide device.