Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Microwave photonics is a rapidly evolving field that combines photonics technology and microwave engineering to create microwave devices and systems that operate at fast speed and high frequencies with low loss and high efficiency. With the increasing demand for faster and more powerful computing systems, the integration of microwave photonics and artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the way we process signal and information. Microwave photonics for Al has been studied recently and new results have been reported, there are still challenges. One of the main challenges is the need for high-quality integrated devices that can operate at high frequencies with low loss and high efficiency. Another challenge is the need for better integration between the different components of the system. For example, the photonic and microwave components need to be tightly integrated to ensure efficient transfer of information between the two domains. In the proposed research programs, efforts will be directed to the implementation of microwave-photonics-assisted AI systems based on hybrid integration in which devices implemented based on different materials systems will be integrated on a single silicon photonic platform. Specifically, the following topics will be investigated: 1) Microwave-photonics-assisted AI system architecture, 2) System integration with a focus on hybrid integration including materials such as InP for light generation and amplification, Silicon Nitride for the implementation of low-loss passive components for high-speed interconnects, and thin-film Lithium Niobate for the implementation of high-speed and low-power-consumption modulators. Quantum-dot mode-locked laser sources developed recently in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada (NRC) will be used as light sources thanks to its highly phase-locked comb lines, which are highly needed for the implementation of large number of low-loss interconnects in neural networks, 3) System characterization (speed, loss, power consumption) and its use for real-world data processing. The program will train a postdoctoral fellow, three PhD students and two summer students, preparing them to contribute to the development of next generation optical computing products and services that will benefit Canadians.