Optics Seminar

Photonic integrated circuits enable complex optical systems on compact chip-scale platforms, but their propagation losses remain substantially higher than those of optical fibres, particularly at visible wavelengths. This talk presents a germanium oxide-doped silica platform that translates fibre-inspired materials and fabrication methods to planar photonics. The platform supports devices including optical frequency combs, stimulated Brillouin lasers, and hybrid-integrated narrow-linewidth visible lasers, while achieving a record-low propagation loss of 0.07 dB/m at 1064 nm and operation from the blue to the near-infrared. I will discuss the key material and manufacturing factors that determine optical loss, and the practical steps we have taken to reduce them and bring fibre-like performance to the photonic chip.