Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom
This thesis proposes a novel approach to photonics, wherein waveguides are formed entirely within a homogeneous liquid crystal layer using Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon (LCoS) technology. Utilizing the electro-optical properties of LCs, we demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of inducing refractive i...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156622 |
| _version_ | 1811072745379725312 |
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| author | Wang, Archer |
| author2 | Englund, Dirk |
| author_facet | Englund, Dirk Wang, Archer |
| author_sort | Wang, Archer |
| collection | MIT |
| description | This thesis proposes a novel approach to photonics, wherein waveguides are formed entirely within a homogeneous liquid crystal layer using Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon (LCoS) technology. Utilizing the electro-optical properties of LCs, we demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of inducing refractive index variations solely within the LC medium to guide light. This method diverges from traditional waveguiding techniques that rely on solid core and cladding structures, offering a new paradigm in reconfigurable photonic devices. Additionally, we develop and explore the idea of a programmable Multi-Mode Interferometer using LCoS technology, enabling the performance of arbitrary unitary transformations. Future work will focus on developing robust simulations of coupled-mode theory with liquid crystals, paving the way for next-generation photonic technologies that perform universal linear optics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T09:11:36Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/156622 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T09:11:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1566222024-09-04T03:55:52Z Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom Wang, Archer Englund, Dirk Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science This thesis proposes a novel approach to photonics, wherein waveguides are formed entirely within a homogeneous liquid crystal layer using Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon (LCoS) technology. Utilizing the electro-optical properties of LCs, we demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of inducing refractive index variations solely within the LC medium to guide light. This method diverges from traditional waveguiding techniques that rely on solid core and cladding structures, offering a new paradigm in reconfigurable photonic devices. Additionally, we develop and explore the idea of a programmable Multi-Mode Interferometer using LCoS technology, enabling the performance of arbitrary unitary transformations. Future work will focus on developing robust simulations of coupled-mode theory with liquid crystals, paving the way for next-generation photonic technologies that perform universal linear optics. M.Eng. 2024-09-03T21:12:33Z 2024-09-03T21:12:33Z 2024-05 2024-07-11T14:36:23.109Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156622 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Wang, Archer Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title | Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title_full | Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title_fullStr | Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title_short | Programmable Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits with Millions of Degrees of Freedom |
| title_sort | programmable liquid crystal on silicon photonic integrated circuits with millions of degrees of freedom |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156622 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wangarcher programmableliquidcrystalonsiliconphotonicintegratedcircuitswithmillionsofdegreesoffreedom |