What is it about?
Today’s computer chips and communication systems need to transfer more data faster. This creates a demand for compact, low-loss, and high-speed photonic (light-based) components that can work reliably on a chip. Terahertz frequency is suitable for transmitting large volume data due to avalibility of large spectral bandwidth. In this work, we show on-chip light-guiding device using something called a valley photonic crystal (VPC), which can guide light in this case terahertz frequency in special ways that are resistant to disruptions (like sharp turns or small defects) and demonstrate to acheive active tunability by integrating liquid crystal molecules.
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Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This is demonstration of a CMOS-compatible, tunable terahertz photonic crystal that: a) Can reliably guide light along designed paths, b) Offers active control through electrical tuning, c) Works in the terahertz regime, which is ideal for 6G communication, high-speed sensing, and computing.
Perspectives
We belive our works can pave the path for devising: a) THz modulators, switches, and filters on a chip, b) Reconfigurable photonic circuits for future 6G wireless systems, c) Compact, robust optical communication links within microchips.
ABHISHEK KUMAR
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: On-chip terahertz tunable topological valley photonic crystals, Journal of Applied Physics, July 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0279114.
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