Project LichtBriQ

lntegrated photonic circuits (PlCs) are groundbreaking not only for classical applications but also for various areas of quantum technologies due to the increasing demands on miniaturization, stabilization and scaling of optical assemblies. However, conventional CMOS-based platforms, such as Si, SiN or lnP, do not meet all requirements. This is why the development of new material platforms and the qualification of corresponding manufacturing processes for industrial and scalable use represent the greatest challenges.
The innovation consists in the development of a disruptive and non-CMOS-based material platform, which, with the successful development of suitable scalable manufacturing processes, offers the opportunity to break away from the current and sometimes strong international dependencies in the semiconductor industry and to establish a resilient and economical production of quantum PlCs in Germany and the EU at an early stage.
IMS CHIPS is to develop and establish a new production line for LNOI technology based on its experience in the manufacture of PICs based on silicon and silicon nitride and initial preliminary investigations of LNOI processing. Due to its physical properties, the processing of LNOI requires special processes that need to be developed and brought into stable process windows. Parallel to the technological development, a PDK (process design kit) is to be created. In the PDK, the complete manufacturing process is described, rules are defined and component libraries are set up for a later industrializing of the production line. The PDK enables partners and customers to create their own designs for components and PIC and have them manufactured in the line.