VISSION will tap into the potential of silicon nitride – an ideal platform for photonic integrated circuits owing to low propagation loss, high power handling and compatibility with CMOS technology.
Infrared radiation is used in industrial, scientific, military, commercial and medical applications. Devices using near-infrared illumination open up new possibilities for environmental sensing and quantum technologies. Currently, the majority of these devices comprise fibres or free-space optical components, which limit their widespread use. The EU-funded VISSION project will tap into the potential of silicon nitride – an ideal platform for photonic integrated circuits owing to low propagation loss, high power handling and compatibility with CMOS technology. Researchers will develop sources, detectors and modulators that can operate in the visible and near-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The envisioned platform will allow reductions in the size and cost of existing systems and improvements in energy efficiency and speed.