Silicon Wafers for Waveguide Research & Fabrication

university wafer substrates

Silicon Nitride Wafers to Fabricate Waveguides

A PhD candidate requested a quote for the following:

I`d like to know if you also have Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) over SiO2/Si. I intend to fabricate a Si3N4 waveguide over SiO2/Si. The SiO2 layer is important to prevent the evanescent wave of the guide to reach the Silicon layer beneath.

Reference #202612 for specs and pricing.

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What Silicon-on-Sapphire Wafer Spec is Used to Fabricate Waveguides?

A Micro & Nano Opto-Electronics Ph.D had a few questions about SOS (Silicon-on-Sapphire) epitaxial
wafers.

 Can you supply epi-wafer as follow? Single crystalline silicon(230+10 nm) Sapphire substrate (double side polished). Above structure will be used as a platform for optical light communication, specifically a waveguide. Therefore silicon epi-layer need to be single-crystal, not
amorphous structure.

  1. Can you offer wafer dicing? We need for above epi-wafer to be cut into 10 x 10 mm sized pieces.
  2. What will be the unit cost per 4 inch wafer including dicing and shipping cost? and how long will it take? We will order 1 or 2 sheets of 4 inch epi-wafer.

Reference #220418 for specs and pricing.

What SiN on Quartz is used to Fabricate Waveguides?

A PhD student requested help with the following:

We are looking for Silicon nitride on quartz wafer for my research to from a waveguide.

If you have , I would be grateful if you kindly give me a quote with necessary information.

Reference #223510 for specs and pricing.

What Sapphire Wafer Should Be Used In Waveguide Applications?

A associate professor needed a quote for the following:

I would like the following sapphire wafer spec.

Diameter: 50.8mm ones.
Thickness: Not important. 330um is fine.
Grade: Must be Prime. it is for waveguide applications.
Polish: Prefer Double side polished.
Qty: 25

Orientation: But i am not familiar with the orientation and Plane. I do prefer a wafer that is easier to cleave. Previously i requested quote for ID2768 where it is "C-plane <0001> off M-plane <1-100> 0.2 +/- 0.1°", but i do not know if the R-plane ones are better and easier to cleave.

Do you happen to know if R-plane sapphires are easier to cleave? or which orientation is easiest to cleave?

How much is 25 pieces of Rplane Prime grade wafers?

Reference #228647 for specs and pricing.

Thin Device SOI to Fabricate Nanostripe Waveguides

A physics professor requested the following quote:

The wafers are needed for a series of fabrication tests of ultracompact nanophotonic devices. Their design includes standard nanostripe waveguides and few shallow gratings to couple the light in and out. For the 1st run we want to preserve a single mode TE operation of the nanostripe waveguides, that is why we'd like to have 220nm Si thickness. The thickness of the buffer layer is not critical and could be form 1 to 2um whatever is available and cheaper.

Reference #133676 for specs and pricing.

What MgF2 Specs areUsed to Fabricate IR Waveguides

A Graduate Student requested the following quote.

I hope all is well. I was wondering if you guys carry any MgF2 evaporated (or sputtered) Si wafers.

We want 2" Si wafers (100) with 5+um of Magnesium Fluoride MgF2 on top (single side is fine). We're mainly concerned about (1) how smooth the MgF2 surface is (we're trying to fabricate mid-IR waveguides on top so this is crucial) and (2) how similar the sputtered MgF2 properties are compared to bulk MgF2 properties.

Reference #214344 for specs and pricing.

Thin Device Layer SOI Wafers to Fabricate Waveguides

A assistant professor working in a university photonics department requested the following quote:

We need 220nm Device Layer SOI.

These are for optical waveguides so the device thickness is important, but the insulator thickness is
not so important (a nice to have).

Reference #217757 for specs and pricing.

What Substrate is USed to Build Pockels Directional Voltage Control Switch?

An Electrical Engineering student requested the following quote:

I want to build a Pockels directional voltage controlled switch. Lithium Niobate optical waveguide is needed some say with diffused Titanium. Can you help me? I am entering the quantum computing field.  Any suggestions on how to build a Pockels (I have the Electric Field 2.5 Kv supply) that you can make is very much appreciated. I am funding this myself at this time.

Reference #217859 for specs and pricing.

What is Pockels Directional Voltage Control Switch?

The term "Pockels Directional Voltage Control Switch" relates to the Pockels effect, which is a well-This image depicts a futuristic and high-tech device, set in a possible laboratory or industrial environment, with a focus on a central unit that resembles a Pockels cell. The device is shown controlling a beam of light, with visible electric fields or voltage indicators to emphasize its control aspect. The background features additional scientific or electronic equipment, enhancing the sense of advanced technology and precision.known phenomenon in physics and engineering.

The Pockels effect is a linear electro-optic effect where the refractive index of a material changes in response to an applied electric field. This effect is used in Pockels cells, which are devices that can modulate light (typically laser light) very rapidly and are used in various applications like switching, modulating, and shaping laser beams.

A "Pockels Directional Voltage Control Switch" might be a specialized type of Pockels cell or a system that uses the Pockels effect for controlling voltage in a specific direction, but without more context or a detailed description, it's challenging to provide a precise explanation. If you have more details or a specific context in which this term is used, I could offer a more targeted explanation.

What LPCVD Nitride on Silicon Spec is Used to Fabricate Optical Waveguide Devices?

A research scientist requested a quote for the following:

Do you have some silicon nitride wafers? the wafer substrate is siliocn layer with thickness of 200-300um,on this substrate is a layer of thermal oxidized silicon dioxide with thickness of 2-3um,the top layer is strain-released LPCVD silicon nitride with thickness of 700-900nm (nanometer). We need this kind of thick film silicon nitride wafer to fabricate silicon nitride optical waveguide devices, and 4 inch or 6 inch wafers all are OK.

Reference #241060 for specs and pricing.

What Stoichiometric Silicon Nitride is Used to Fabricate Waveguides?

A doctoral candidate requested a quote for the following inventory item.

Our lab is planning to fabricate some silicon nitride waveguide. so we need to buy some silicon nitride wafers, which means we need around 150 nm stoichiometric silicon nitride films on thermal oxides silicon wafers. the thermal oxide layer should be at least 1 um thickness. silicon substrate is flexible. #1385 is good thermal oxide wafer for us. Do you have the processing service to grow 150 nm LPCVD low stress silicon nitride on #1385? can you please send me a quote? Thanks.

Reference #238672 for specs and pricing.

What Thick Thermal Oxide Spec Can Be Used To Fabricate Optical Waveguides

A graduate student requested the following quote:

Can you provide Si wafers with thick thermal oxide? We generally prefer to work with 3" wafers, but can handle 2" and 4". Thickness in the range of 600-1000 microns, single or double side polished.
We need a thermal oxide of ~8microns thickness for fabricating optical waveguide devices on top.

Reference #237534 for specs and pricing.

What Lithium Niobate Substrate Should Be Used to Fabricate Waveguides?

A university professor designing special waveguides requested the following quote:

I have a university professor who designed special waveguide and is looking for the manufacture to actually create these special substrate.

  1. Type1. 5 waveguides embedded(40um width and depth, 1mm pitches) on LiNbO3 substrate
    size 10mmx5mmx1mm both sides optical polished
  2. Type2. LiNbO3 slab waveguide( being fixed with wax if possible) LiNbO3 substrate needs to be metalized with silver or gold. 10mmx10mmx1mm If you have chances to customize such LiNbO3, we will send the detail information with sketches(which includes the information about slab size, beam direction, axis direction and so on).

Reference #225940 for specs and pricing.

What are Waveguides?

Waveguides are physical structures that guide electromagnetic waves, such as light or radio waves, from one point to another. Waveguides direct electromagnetic waves from one location to another, facilitating technologies like telecommunications and fiber optics. Here's a more detailed explanation:

  1. Basic Concept: A waveguide is essentially a tube or a path that confines and directs the waves. Instead of letting the wave scatter everywhere, a waveguide keeps it on track and concentrated, which cuts down losses and maintains its power even over long distances.

  2. Types of Waveguides:

    • Metallic Waveguides: Commonly used for microwave frequencies, these are typically hollow, conductive tubes.
    • Dielectric Waveguides: Used for optical frequencies, like in fiber optics, where light is guided through a transparent core surrounded by a cladding with a lower refractive index.
  3. Operating Principle: Waveguides work by reflecting the wave internally, often via total internal reflection in the case of optical fibers, or by bouncing the electromagnetic waves off the metallic walls in microwave waveguides. So, the wave can move along with hardly any energy getting lost.

  4. Applications:

    • Telecommunications: Optical fiber waveguides are critical in modern communication networks for transmitting data over long distances.
    • Radar and Microwave Technology: Metallic waveguides are essential in the transmission and reception of microwave signals.
    • Scientific Research: Specialized waveguides are used in particle accelerators and plasma research.
  5. Advantages and Limitations: Waveguides offer high bandwidth and low signal loss, making them ideal for long-distance and high-capacity communications. However, they can be limited by their physical size and the complexities involved in coupling waves into and out of the guide.

Waveguides, in essence, are the unsung heroes of our current communication and electronics systems; they ensure that electromagnetic waves travel swiftly and directly where we need them to go.

What Substrates are Commonly Used to Fabricate Waveguides?

The fabrication of waveguides often involves the use of various types of substrates, each chosen based on the intended application and the specific properties required for efficient wave propagation. Here are some of the most commonly used substrates for fabricating waveguides:

  1. Silica or Silicon Dioxide (SiO2): Widely used in optical fiber waveguides due to its excellent optical properties, low loss, and high transparency in the infrared range. Silica-based waveguides are a staple in telecommunications.

  2. Silicon (Si): Commonly used in integrated optics and photonic circuits. You know, silicon waveguides are pretty cool because you can make them with the same methods we use for semiconductors. So they're perfect for churning out in large quantities and pairing up with electronic parts.

  3. Gallium Arsenide (GaAs): Preferred for high-frequency applications, such as in microwave and millimeter-wave technologies. Special lasers and photonic devices often use GaAs waveguides for their unique needs.

  4. Lithium Niobate (LiNbO2): Known for its strong electro-optic and non-linear optical properties, making it useful in modulators and other active photonic devices. Lithium niobate waveguides are often used in integrated optics.

  5. Polymers and Plastics: Used for flexible and cost-effective optical waveguide fabrication. Polymer waveguides? Yeah, they're getting more attention these days because of their flexibility and how easy it is to incorporate them into various applications.

  6. Glass and Fused Silica: Apart from silica fibers, glass substrates are also used for fabricating planar waveguides, especially in applications requiring low loss and high transparency.

  7. Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3): Employed in certain specialty applications due to its good optical properties and compatibility with integrated photonics.

But every substrate has distinct qualities fitting for special waveguide types—silica's low loss works for telecom, silicon takes to manufacturing, GaAs handles high frequencies—so the choice depends on wavelength needs, power durability, fabrication, and other application specifics. Picking the right substrate boils down to what you need, like your preferred wavelength range, how much power it needs to handle, the fabrication tech you're using, and any specific needs for your project.

Why Use Silicon Substrates for Waveguide Research

Silicon substrates are commonly used in waveguide research because of their compatibility with silicon-based photonics technologies. Silicon is a suitable material for waveguide research due to its high refractive index, low absorption losses, and ease of fabrication. These characteristics make it possible to create efficient and low-loss optical waveguides on silicon substrates, which can be used to guide light in various photonic applications.

In waveguide research, silicon substrates can be processed using techniques such as photolithography, etching, and deposition to create structures such as straight waveguides, ring resonators, and grating couplers. The waveguides can be used to study a variety of phenomena, including light confinement, optical interference, and dispersion. These studies are important for the development of a range of photonic devices, including optical amplifiers, filters, and modulators.

In summary, silicon substrates are widely used in waveguide research due to their favorable optical and processing properties, and are essential for the advancement of silicon photonics technology.