Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

This three year strategic project is concerned with the development of a series of novel integrated devices basec on a magneto-optic thin film technology. The proposed theoretical and experimental research will allow the university team members from INRS-EMT, in collaboration with their industrial partners, to lead Canadian and international efforts in searching for low-cost, high performance, integrated all-optical isolators. Our interest stems from the impact of magneto-optics on the development of communications and sensing applications in the form of isolators/circulators, which protect light sources from the instability caused by reflections. The sheer number of bulk isolators in use represents a major investment by the photonics industry. Nevertheless, further real progress depends upon integration and it is clear that the monolithic integration of magneto-optic components such as isolators/mode-converters with diode lasers is the task that must now be addressed. The objectives of this project are three-fold: (A) To complete a theoretical analysis of single mode, non reciprocal waveguides and optical isolators; (B) To develop high quality magneto-optic thin films based on a YIG substrate (the films will be deposited using a laser ablation technique) to be used as upper claddings in our devices and (C) To provide preliminary proof-of-concept experiments of the fabrication and characterization of waveguides incorporating magneto-optic layers. The resulting, highly compact devices could have a dramatic impact in several disciplines, such as telecommunication engineering, spectroscopy and metrology. The simplicity of our design and the mature technology of semiconductor waveguides may well lead to the cost/performance and mass-reproducible characteristics which are prerequisite to successful commercialization. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in the most advanced high-technology sectors.