Jock Bovington

Bio: Jock Bovington is an academic researcher from Cisco Systems, Inc.. The author has contributed to research in topics: Laser & Silicon photonics. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 80 publications receiving 1571 citations. Previous affiliations of Jock Bovington include University of California, Berkeley & University of California, Santa Barbara.

Two-dimensional free-space beam steering with an optical phased array on silicon-on-insulator

Abstract: We demonstrate a 16-channel, independently tuned waveguide surface grating optical phased array in silicon for two dimensional beam steering with a total field of view of 20° x 14°, beam width of 0.6° x 1.6°, and full-window background peak suppression of 10 dB.

Fully integrated hybrid silicon two dimensional beam scanner.

Abstract: In this work we present the first fully-integrated free-space beam-steering chip using the hybrid silicon platform. The photonic integrated circuit (PIC) consists of 164 optical components including lasers, amplifiers, photodiodes, phase tuners, grating couplers, splitters, and a photonic crystal lens. The PIC exhibited steering over 23° x 3.6° with beam widths of 1° x 0.6°.

Device and Integration Technology for Silicon Photonic Transmitters

Abstract: The device and integration technology for silicon photonic transmitters are reviewed in this paper. The hybrid silicon platform enables on-chip lasers to be fabricated with silicon photonic circuits and can be integrated in the CMOS back-end flow. Laser arrays from multiple die bonding and quantum well intermixing techniques are demonstrated to extend the spectral bandwidth from the laser array of the transmitter. Two modulator technologies, silicon modulators and hybrid silicon modulators, are also described.

Demonstration of a High Speed 4-Channel Integrated Silicon Photonics WDM Link with Hybrid Silicon Lasers

Abstract: The demonstration of a 4λ×10Gbps Silicon Photonics CWDM link integrating all optical components, electronics and packaging technologies required for system integration is reported. Further demonstration of the link operating at 50Gbps, 4λ×12.5Gbps, is also shown.

Integrated Microwave Photonic Filter on a Hybrid Silicon Platform

Abstract: A hybrid silicon photonic integrated filter is proposed and demonstrated with a novel structure. This filter incorporates a ring resonator in one arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer making it possible to obtain a programmable filter response. The optical filter consists of a 5-mm-long delay loop made of low-loss silicon waveguides with integrated thermal modulators resulting in a 0.164-nm free spectral range with absolute phase tunability and gain elements that allow for the tuning of the filter factor. The microwave response of this integrated filter is measured and display tunability of 20 GHz.

Large-scale nanophotonic phased array

Abstract: A large-scale silicon nanophotonic phased array with more than 4,000 antennas is demonstrated using a state-of-the-art complementary metal-oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process, enabling arbitrary holograms with tunability, which brings phased arrays to many new technological territories. Nanophotonic approaches allow the construction of chip-scale arrays of optical nanoantennas capable of producing radiation patterns in the far field. This could be useful for a range of applications in communications, LADAR (laser detection and ranging) and three-dimensional holography. Until now this technology has been restricted to one-dimensional or small two-dimensional arrays. This paper reports the construction of a large-scale silicon nanophotonic phased array containing 4,096 optical nanoantennas balanced in power and aligned in phase. The array was used to generate a complex radiation pattern—the MIT logo—in the far field. The authors show that this type of nanophotonic phased array can be actively tuned, and in some cases the beam is steerable. Electromagnetic phased arrays at radio frequencies are well known and have enabled applications ranging from communications to radar, broadcasting and astronomy1. The ability to generate arbitrary radiation patterns with large-scale phased arrays has long been pursued. Although it is extremely expensive and cumbersome to deploy large-scale radiofrequency phased arrays2, optical phased arrays have a unique advantage in that the much shorter optical wavelength holds promise for large-scale integration3. However, the short optical wavelength also imposes stringent requirements on fabrication. As a consequence, although optical phased arrays have been studied with various platforms4,5,6,7,8 and recently with chip-scale nanophotonics9,10,11,12, all of the demonstrations so far are restricted to one-dimensional or small-scale two-dimensional arrays. Here we report the demonstration of a large-scale two-dimensional nanophotonic phased array (NPA), in which 64 × 64 (4,096) optical nanoantennas are densely integrated on a silicon chip within a footprint of 576 μm × 576 μm with all of the nanoantennas precisely balanced in power and aligned in phase to generate a designed, sophisticated radiation pattern in the far field. We also show that active phase tunability can be realized in the proposed NPA by demonstrating dynamic beam steering and shaping with an 8 × 8 array. This work demonstrates that a robust design, together with state-of-the-art complementary metal-oxide–semiconductor technology, allows large-scale NPAs to be implemented on compact and inexpensive nanophotonic chips. In turn, this enables arbitrary radiation pattern generation using NPAs and therefore extends the functionalities of phased arrays beyond conventional beam focusing and steering, opening up possibilities for large-scale deployment in applications such as communication, laser detection and ranging, three-dimensional holography and biomedical sciences, to name just a few.

Inverse design and demonstration of a compact and broadband on-chip wavelength demultiplexer

Abstract: An on-chip integrated wavelength demultiplexer designed using an inverse computational algorithm is experimentally demonstrated. 1,300 and 1,550 nm wavelength light is sorted in a device area of just 2.8 × 2.8 μm2.

Integrated microwave photonics

Abstract: Microwave photonics (MWP) is an emerging field in which radio frequency (RF) signals are generated, distributed, processed and analyzed using the strength of photonic techniques. It is a technology that enables various functionalities which are not feasible to achieve only in the microwave domain. A particular aspect that recently gains significant interests is the use of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology in the MWP field for enhanced functionalities and robustness as well as the reduction of size, weight, cost and power consumption. This article reviews the recent advances in this emerging field which is dubbed as integrated microwave photonics. Key integrated MWP technologies are reviewed and the prospective of the field is discussed.

Ultrafast optical ranging using microresonator soliton frequency combs

Abstract: Light detection and ranging is widely used in science and industry. Over the past decade, optical frequency combs were shown to offer advantages in optical ranging, enabling fast distance acquisition with high accuracy. Driven by emerging high-volume applications such as industrial sensing, drone navigation, or autonomous driving, there is now a growing demand for compact ranging systems. Here, we show that soliton Kerr comb generation in integrated silicon nitride microresonators provides a route to high-performance chip-scale ranging systems. We demonstrate dual-comb distance measurements with Allan deviations down to 12 nanometers at averaging times of 13 microseconds along with ultrafast ranging at acquisition rates of 100 megahertz, allowing for in-flight sampling of gun projectiles moving at 150 meters per second. Combining integrated soliton-comb ranging systems with chip-scale nanophotonic phased arrays could enable compact ultrafast ranging systems for emerging mass applications.

Neuromorphic photonic networks using silicon photonic weight banks.

Abstract: Photonic systems for high-performance information processing have attracted renewed interest. Neuromorphic silicon photonics has the potential to integrate processing functions that vastly exceed the capabilities of electronics. We report first observations of a recurrent silicon photonic neural network, in which connections are configured by microring weight banks. A mathematical isomorphism between the silicon photonic circuit and a continuous neural network model is demonstrated through dynamical bifurcation analysis. Exploiting this isomorphism, a simulated 24-node silicon photonic neural network is programmed using “neural compiler” to solve a differential system emulation task. A 294-fold acceleration against a conventional benchmark is predicted. We also propose and derive power consumption analysis for modulator-class neurons that, as opposed to laser-class neurons, are compatible with silicon photonic platforms. At increased scale, Neuromorphic silicon photonics could access new regimes of ultrafast information processing for radio, control, and scientific computing.