Based on Nature 2025 Publication

Programmable On-Chip Nonlinear Photonics

Electric-field-induced χ⁽²⁾ nonlinearity with spatial light programming. Real-time reconfigurable quasi-phase-matching in silicon nitride waveguides.

χ⁽²⁾ Nonlinearity QPM Gratings Second Harmonic Generation Silicon Nitride Python
500K
Programmable Pixels
7.5 μm
Spatial Resolution
0.47
pm/V χ⁽²⁾
1000V
Operating Bias
~1 Hz
Update Rate

System Architecture

Light Pattern
SLM Control
Photoconductive
SiN Layer
χ⁽²⁾ Profile
E-field Induced
χ⁽²⁾eff = 3χ⁽³⁾Ebias Programmable Nonlinearity

Interactive Simulators

Explore the physics of programmable nonlinear photonics through hands-on demonstrations

Key Capabilities

Spectral Control

  • Broadband SHG across telecom C-band (1500-1630 nm pump)
  • Multi-wavelength simultaneous output generation
  • Arbitrary spectral shaping with programmable gratings
  • Output range: 750-815 nm (visible)

Spatial Control

  • Gaussian beam focusing and defocusing
  • Non-diffracting Airy beam generation
  • Arbitrary spatial phase profile programming
  • 7.5 μm pixel resolution over 0.7 × 0.4 cm area

Device Structure

ITO Electrode
Transparent Top Contact
Si-rich SiN
Photoconductive Layer
SiN Waveguide
χ⁽³⁾ Nonlinear Core
SiO₂ Substrate
Bottom Cladding

Documentation