Swagata Samanta

SRM University-AP, India

Title: SU-8 Polymer Waveguides for Photonic Integrated Circuit Applications

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Biography

Swagata Samanta received her Ph.D degree from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kgp). She continued her research as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bangalore) and then at James Watt School of Engineering (JWNC), University of Glasgow, UK. Presently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at SRM University-AP, India. Research area for Dr. Swagata is interdisciplinary. Her research interests include novel on-chip nanophotonic and nanoelectronic devices, integrated optics, neuromorphic circuits, VLSI systems, and artificial intelligence. She has expertise on efficient design methodologies and fabrication techniques of integrated photonic devices; she possesses cleanroom skills; and has handled various cleanroom equipments and characterization tools. She has authored several reputed journal publications and conferences along with two books and a book chapter. She has also worked on Neuromorphic and nanophotonic chips using Artificial Intelligence systems during her stay at University of Glasgow, UK.

Abstract

The focus of my talk is on the design and development of step-index SU-8 polymer waveguide-based devices. Design of the SU-8 step-index waveguides for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations has been accomplished using effective index-based matrix method (EIMM); and the results are validated with commercially available OptiFDTD. Initial fabrication attempt for obtaining single-mode SU-8 waveguides is made using laser direct writing technique on thermally oxidized silicon substrate with 375 nm continuous-wave laser source. Proceeding with I-line optical lithography using chrome mask, optical directional coupler, laterally coupled micro ring resonator (MRR) and a photonic crystal structure on SU-8 waveguide are developed using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposited oxide layer on silicon substrate for photonic integrated circuit applications. Photonic crystal structure fabricated by focused ion beam lithography on SU-8 wire waveguide may be applied in optical integrated circuits as input/output light coupler. So, in a nutshell, my talk will touch upon the design, fabrication, and characterization of some of the photonic structures using SU-8 waveguides.