Research

My research is centered around these three questions.


How can we enable low-loss light propagation through silicon waveguides? Photonic platforms with low-loss and low-dispersion enable high speed chip-to-chip data transfer and efficient light-matter interaction. Utilizing the novel concepts of topological physics in topological photonic devices can open new avenues for dispersion engineering and chip-miniaturization with promising applications in high-throughput waveguiding, sensing, and spectroscopy. Here, I have worked on developing photonic crystal waveguides for high-speed interconnects and on-chip topological photonic devices.
Photonic crystal line defect waveguide
Topological Waveguide


How can we improve electronic circuits for high-frequency operation? The performance of electronic circuits is limited at frequencies close to 300 GHz, primarily because of the low fT and fmax of available technologies. Here, I am interested in optimising circuit-layouts and passives to mitigate the losses for facilitating the development of high frequency electronic circuitry. An interesting unison of terahertz electronics and photonics is in high-frequency electronic transceivers interconnected by photonic waveguides achieveing high data rates in short-to-medium (0.01 - 10m) distances, filling the gap between copper and optical interconnects. Another intriguing aspect is exploring how materials exhibiting superior transport properties at terahertz frequencies, such as III-V semiconductors, can be used in circuit design and integrated with conventional silicon processes.
Transport properties to RF metrics


How can we accurately evaluate the performance of high-frequency photonic and electronic devices? Sub-terahertz (0.1 THz - 1 THz) frequencies offer high bandwidth and the opportunity for co-integration of photonics and electronics. Developing vector network analyser based device characterisation setups and communication testbeds operational at these frequencies is vital for benchmarking devices, supporting research into 6G technologies and high-throughput data links. Here, I have worked with Uni-traveling-carrier photo diodes (UTC-PD), arbitrary waveform generators, broadband modulators to transmit complex modulated waveforms which are then captured and analysed in a real time oscilloscope. A key challenge here, especially in devices such as broadband low-loss waveguides, is accurate calibration and optimisation of the measurement setups. Without this, Wittgenstein's Ruler scenarios become inevitable, where the measurement tells more about the setup characteristics than about the device under test.