Photonic integrated circuits promise high data transfer rates and offer possibilities in computing and sensing. A major bottleneck for their widespread implication has so far been a lack of simple and reversible programmability. A collaboration between the departments of Electrical Engineering and Chemical Egineering and Chemistry, led by Oded Raz and Ilja Voets, shows what is possible by coating photonic devices with a reversibly swellable polymer film. Recently promoted dr. Mahir Mohammed and PhD candidate Christian Sproncken combined their experiences in photonics and polymers, respectively, to fine-tune their new approach. The procedure is quick, straightforward and requires no continuous energy input, as is unfortunately the case for many other approaches. Read more about it in this TU/e press release or find the full article on the publisher’s website. Additionally, Photonics Online picked up on the publication and released a news flash on their website.
