High-performance programmable photonic chip could transform radar and communication systems

Researchers at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the City University of Hong Kong, have designed a cutting-edge programmable photonic chip in a thin-film lithium niobate platform, an important material in photonics. Published in Nature Communications, this work paves the way for next-generation high-performance radar and communication applications.

An important material is changing the way optical chips work, making them smaller, faster, and more efficient: thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN). It offers exceptional properties for how light and electrical signals can interact. This enables the seamless integration of key components—such as electro-optic modulators and signal processors—onto a single chip. As a result, optical devices can achieve unprecedented compactness, efficiency, and performance.

Researchers at the University of Twente have designed a TFLN-based integrated photonic chip, working in close collaboration with City University of Hong Kong, where the fabrication takes place. At the same time, these chips are also being fabricated locally in the MESA+ Nanolab.

"We are currently producing these integrated photonic circuits in our group, as part of the National Growth Fund project PhotonDelta," said Professor David Marpaung, the chairholder of Nonlinear Nanophotonics group.

Programmable photonic chip

A key breakthrough in this research is the chip's programmability. By integrating a TFLN modulator with a network of programmable components, researchers have developed a flexible chip that processes radio and light signals. Unlike conventional photonic circuits with fixed functions, this chip can be dynamically reconfigured for various signal processing tasks, similar to electronic chips.

"This advancement brings us closer to real-world applications in high-performance communication and radar systems," said Chuangchuang Wei, a Ph.D. student in David's group. The successful integration, programmability, and potential for mass manufacturing of these chips underscore the critical role of TFLN in the future of photonic technologies.

Protecting communication from jamming

Jamming devices disrupt wireless communication by overwhelming networks with interference. One of the novel processing techniques of this chip is the anti-jammer, which rejects strong interference while preserving weak information-carrying signals. Unlike conventional filters, it is not limited by spectral resolution, the ability to separate signals that are very close together in frequency.

This makes it effective against jamming signals with frequencies close to the communication signal. This capability is crucial for radar and 6G networks, where traditional filters struggle with dense interference.