SubsidieMeestersActive Hybrid Photonic Integrated Circuits for Ultra-Efficient Electro-Optic Conversion and Signal Processing
ATHENS aims to revolutionize electro-optic conversion in photonic integrated circuits by developing advanced materials and integration techniques for enhanced performance in communications and quantum technologies.
Projectdetails
Introduction
Information and communication technology (ICT) crucially relies on the combination of two highly complementary fields: Microelectronics, which excels in processing and storing information using CMOS circuits, and photonics, which is key to fast and efficient transmission of information over large distances.
Electrical-to-Optical Conversion
Electrical-to-optical conversion in photonic integrated circuits is what links both fields. While efficient conversion from optical signals to electrical signals is straightforward even at a single-photon level, electrical-to-optical conversion represents a key challenge – with respect to efficiency, bandwidth, and noise.
Impact on Applications
This challenge does not only affect optical communications, where efficient generation of broadband data signals is key, but also prevents photonic integrated circuits from unfolding their full impact in highly relevant emerging application fields such as:
- Microwave photonics
- Artificial intelligence
- Quantum technologies
Project Goals
ATHENS aims at overcoming this deficiency by establishing the foundations of a new class of photonic integrated systems that offer unprecedented electro-optic conversion performance.
Approach
The project builds upon a synergistic selection of highly disruptive approaches on the material, process, and device level, reaching from:
- Theory-guided engineering of organic electro-optic materials
- Novel ‘crystal-on-insulator’ integration platforms
- Disruptive concepts for broadband optical on-chip amplifiers based on ion implantation or parametric interaction
- Highly flexible photonic-electronic system-integration concepts based on additive nanofabrication
These technologies are combined on a system level, building a base for groundbreaking demonstrations in:
- Hyperscale communications
- Millimeter-wave signal processing
- Quantum technologies
Team Composition
The project is borne by an interdisciplinary and highly complementary team of scientists from organic chemistry, solid-state physics, quantum technologies, and communications engineering.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 13.999.999 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 13.999.999 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-12-2025 |
| Einddatum | 30-11-2031 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2025 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEpenvoerder
- ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
- FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITÄT JENA
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rapid Programmable Photonic Integrated CircuitsThis project aims to develop programmable photonic integrated circuits using atomically thin semiconductors for enhanced performance in speed and energy efficiency. | ERC Proof of... | € 150.000 | 2023 | Details |
Silicon opto-electro-mechanics for bridging the gap between photonics and microwavesThe SPRING project aims to achieve efficient microwave-optical conversion and quantum state transfer using a novel optomechanical coupling approach in silicon chips for advanced communication and computing applications. | ERC Consolid... | € 2.491.486 | 2024 | Details |
Integrated photonic circuit fabrication by femtosecond laser writing for quantum informationThe PhotonFAB project aims to enhance the production of integrated photonic devices for quantum applications using femtosecond laser writing, targeting commercial viability and market expansion. | ERC Proof of... | € 150.000 | 2022 | Details |
Optoelectronic and all-optical hyperspin machines for large-scale computingHYPERSPIM develops ultrafast photonic machines for large-scale combinatorial optimization, enhancing efficiency in classical and quantum computing for complex real-world problems. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.490.000 | 2025 | Details |
Crystalline Oxides Platform for Hybrid Silicon PhotonicsThe CRYPTONIT project aims to develop a hybrid Si photonics platform using zirconia-based crystalline oxides to enhance nonlinear optical devices and optical modulation for advanced communication systems. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.499.986 | 2024 | Details |
Rapid Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits
This project aims to develop programmable photonic integrated circuits using atomically thin semiconductors for enhanced performance in speed and energy efficiency.
Silicon opto-electro-mechanics for bridging the gap between photonics and microwaves
The SPRING project aims to achieve efficient microwave-optical conversion and quantum state transfer using a novel optomechanical coupling approach in silicon chips for advanced communication and computing applications.
Integrated photonic circuit fabrication by femtosecond laser writing for quantum information
The PhotonFAB project aims to enhance the production of integrated photonic devices for quantum applications using femtosecond laser writing, targeting commercial viability and market expansion.
Optoelectronic and all-optical hyperspin machines for large-scale computing
HYPERSPIM develops ultrafast photonic machines for large-scale combinatorial optimization, enhancing efficiency in classical and quantum computing for complex real-world problems.
Crystalline Oxides Platform for Hybrid Silicon Photonics
The CRYPTONIT project aims to develop a hybrid Si photonics platform using zirconia-based crystalline oxides to enhance nonlinear optical devices and optical modulation for advanced communication systems.
Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cavity-Integrated Electro-Optics: Measuring, Converting and Manipulating Microwaves with LightCIELO aims to develop laser-based electro-optic interconnects for scalable quantum processors, enhancing quantum information transfer and enabling advanced sensing applications. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.548.532 | 2024 | Details |
RECONFIGURABLE SUPERCONDUTING AND PHOTONIC TECHNOLOGIES OF THE FUTURERESPITE aims to develop a compact, scalable neuromorphic computing platform integrating vision and cognition on a single chip using superconducting technologies for ultra-low power and high performance. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.455.823 | 2023 | Details |
A Quantum System on Chip for equal access to secure communications: a pilot-ready photonic integrated circuit with embedded quantum key distribution functions for high-performance transceivers.PhotonIP aims to develop a cost-effective, miniaturized Quantum System on Chip (QSoC) for mass-market quantum key distribution, ensuring secure communications across existing networks. | EIC Transition | € 2.307.188 | 2022 | Details |
Photonic Integrated Circuits For Access System in TelecomPICadvanced aims to develop a novel Photonic Integrated Circuit design for Optical Network Units, enabling 10Gbps broadband with minimal upgrades, reduced costs, and lower environmental impact. | EIC Accelerator | € 2.444.378 | 2024 | Details |
CIRCULATING LIGHT ON ANY PHOTONIC PLATFORMCIRCULIGHT aims to revolutionize Photonic Integrated Circuits by developing a low-cost, miniaturized optical circulator using advanced materials, enhancing functionality and sustainability across diverse applications. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.908.754 | 2024 | Details |
Cavity-Integrated Electro-Optics: Measuring, Converting and Manipulating Microwaves with Light
CIELO aims to develop laser-based electro-optic interconnects for scalable quantum processors, enhancing quantum information transfer and enabling advanced sensing applications.
RECONFIGURABLE SUPERCONDUTING AND PHOTONIC TECHNOLOGIES OF THE FUTURE
RESPITE aims to develop a compact, scalable neuromorphic computing platform integrating vision and cognition on a single chip using superconducting technologies for ultra-low power and high performance.
A Quantum System on Chip for equal access to secure communications: a pilot-ready photonic integrated circuit with embedded quantum key distribution functions for high-performance transceivers.
PhotonIP aims to develop a cost-effective, miniaturized Quantum System on Chip (QSoC) for mass-market quantum key distribution, ensuring secure communications across existing networks.
Photonic Integrated Circuits For Access System in Telecom
PICadvanced aims to develop a novel Photonic Integrated Circuit design for Optical Network Units, enabling 10Gbps broadband with minimal upgrades, reduced costs, and lower environmental impact.
CIRCULATING LIGHT ON ANY PHOTONIC PLATFORM
CIRCULIGHT aims to revolutionize Photonic Integrated Circuits by developing a low-cost, miniaturized optical circulator using advanced materials, enhancing functionality and sustainability across diverse applications.