Active Photonics Alignment Demos

So here, in this application, you can see the repeating demonstration where we bring input and output fiber arrays to a simulated chip that we have manufactured out of two class arrays connected together.  [It’s] simulated, because we can't show our customers’ devices being aligned here. In the first step, the input and output arrays are brought into a rough initial position and then the active alignment is performed to maximize the photonic efficiency of the device of the coupling and then usually our customers will perform some bonding and apparently other operations. The key here is the parallel execution of all of the alignments. It's unique in the world. We can do the multiple degrees of freedom of the multiple inputs and outputs all in one step, so it's significantly faster.

The field is also enjoying a continuing unfolding of new technologies, new devices, and new approaches that are very exciting because they promise continuing growth and continuing innovation in the industry. This is a really good example here - this is a high density interconnect that is pioneered by a company called Chiral Photonics in New Jersey. In this very slender probe, there are up to 91 individual single-mode channels that can be used to connect to a very high density photonic chip. Actually, what we're showing here is the ability to align and automatically track the coupling between these high-density chips and the novel high density probe. For more information about these positioning technologies and their importance for research development and manufacturing of silicon photonics devices, quantum computing devices, and anything of this sort, your best first place for information is to contact your local PI applications engineer. We have offices all over the world and we're deeply embedded in these applications from the research to the manufacturing arenas.