Russian Researchers Advance Photonic Microcircuits with Gallium Arsenide and Silicon Nitride Materials
A team of Russian scientists recently reported progress in the search for materials that could enable the next generation of photonic microcircuits. The findings were shared with socialbites.ca by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, highlighting a push toward light-based computing components.
Today’s electronics predominantly relies on microcircuits that process information through electrical signals. The logic of central processors and a wide array of sensors depends on these signals and their corresponding circuits. Yet many researchers believe photonic integrated circuits, which use light or infrared signals instead of electrical current, could compete with traditional silicon-based microcircuits. Light-guided processing has the potential to reduce power consumption and increase data throughput because optical signals do not require silicon semiconductors in the same way as electronic signals do. As a result, photonics and radio photonics have emerged as key research domains, focusing on materials and structures that can guide and manipulate light with high precision.
Scientists at ETU “LETI” investigated the properties of components for photonic integrated circuits built with gallium arsenide and silicon nitride, two materials seen as particularly promising for radio photonics. The studies indicated that signal transmission experiences less interference when these semiconductors are used. Moreover, the production techniques under examination show promise for scalable, mass production, which is crucial for practical deployment of photonic circuits across devices and systems.
The materials examined include single-crystal semiconductors, epitaxial films, and nanoheterostructures derived from them. The researchers demonstrated that devices can be integrated onto a compact chip, with an area of one square millimeter or smaller. Ongoing work focuses on a broad range of material properties and the performance characteristics of the devices developed. A dedicated research station enables experiments directly on crystal substrates and provides signals directly to the waveguide structures that form the circuit topology, allowing scientists to observe and refine interactions at the nanoscale. These insights were shared by Alexander Semenov, head of the science department at St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI,” in discussions with socialbites.ca. .
The researchers anticipate that their work could lead to waveguide structures with extremely low losses in both optical and microwave frequency ranges. Such components would be suitable for photonic integrated circuits used in a variety of applications, with performance and cost profiles that could rival contemporary silicon electronics. Experts point to the possibility of faster operation and reduced interference as notable advantages of photonic circuits, enabling more efficient signal processing in future systems.
In addition to potential gains in processing speed and efficiency, these developments could support advanced sensing and navigation technologies. For example, photonic circuits may form the backbone of lidar systems, or laser radar devices, that enable unmanned aerial and ground vehicles to orient themselves with greater accuracy and reliability in dynamic environments. As the research matures, collaborations with industry partners could help bring light-based circuit components from laboratory prototypes to commercial products, broadening the impact of photonics across sectors such as communications, automotive, and healthcare.