In a technological leap reminiscent of assembling Lego blocks, the University of Sydney Nano Institute introduces a game-changing silicon semiconductor chip. This compact wonder seamlessly blends electronics with photonic components, propelling the realm of radio-frequency (RF) bandwidth into uncharted territories.
The newly unveiled silicon semiconductor chip, a product of cutting-edge silicon photonics technology, defies convention with integration capabilities within semiconductors less than 5 millimeters wide. Professor Ben Eggleton likens the process to a sophisticated Lego assembly, where electronic ‘chiplets’ are meticulously packaged, ushering in a new era of component integration.
While the notion of Lego-style components in chips isn’t entirely novel, the University of Sydney’s chip stands out for its decade-long journey in heterogeneous materials integration. Dr. Alvaro Casas Bedoya, Associate Director for Photonic Integration, underscores the chip’s significance in Australia’s technological landscape, potentially paving the way for sovereign chip manufacturing.
Constructed at the state-of-the-art University of Sydney Nanoscience Hub, this $150 million facility equipped with advanced lithography and deposition facilities played a pivotal role. The chip’s photonic circuit achieves a remarkable 15 gigahertz bandwidth of tunable frequencies with a spectral resolution down to just 37 megahertz.
This groundbreaking capability positions the chip as a catalyst for reshaping microwave photonics and integrated photonics research. Applications ripple across advanced radar, satellite systems, wireless networks, and the impending 6G and 7G telecommunications, promising unprecedented communication and sensing capabilities.
Australia’s reliance on semiconductors, deemed critical in the national interest, adds strategic weight to the chip’s development. Dr. Nadia Court, Director of the Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau, emphasizes the potential for Australia to establish sovereign chip manufacturing without exclusive dependence on international foundries.
Published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications, the findings signify a quantum leap in semiconductor technology. Co-author Dr. Moritz Merklein envisions a future of compact, high-resolution RF photonic filters with wideband frequency tunability, poised to enhance communication and sensing capabilities in air and spaceborne RF communication payloads.
The University of Sydney’s chip emerges not just as an engineering marvel but as a herald of transformative possibilities in the intricate landscape of semiconductor innovation.