Evaluation of radiation sensitivity of COTS Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs)

ABSTRACT

Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a promising technology that integrates multiple photonic functions required in given equipment in a single chip. This will allow a considerable SWAP and cost reduction for spaceborne photonic systems.

Our study evaluates this technology’s radiation sensitivity, which needs to be progressed to expedite the adoption of PICs for space applications. The following approach is to irradiate a PIC-based COTS device (a narrow linewidth tunable laser source) composed of several building blocks, of which we aim to determine radiation sensitivity. Such an approach is motivated by the following:

• The possibility of in-situ monitoring, allowing studying potential degradation dynamics or fast healing mechanisms.
• The simplified measurement interface increases repeatability. Indeed the device being packaged, its simple fiber interface, and integrated thermal regulation will ease measurement reproducibility.
• Test results will give an assessment related to a function of intermediate complexity with its design and technology;. In contrast, validation efforts to cover all technology blocks are higher, design impact on radiation sensitivity is unknown.

In the case of radiation sensitivity, studying the links between individual building blocks’ radiation sensitivity, design impacts, and overall PIC sensitivity will be a natural way forward in this work.

The study is currently ongoing, with a radiation campaign planned in September.

Speaker: Louis Bouet  – ADS

Ph.D. in Quantum Optoelectronics/Nanophysics; Optoelectronics part engineer at Airbus DS since 2017