Aluvia Photonics Strengthens 200mm AlOx Production with New Equipment
Aluvia Photonics, a leading innovator in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and the first company to commercialize AlOx-based photonics platform, announced today the commissioning of new manufacturing equipment to scale production to 200mm wafers, with planned installation later this year. This expansion represents a key milestone in ramping up Aluvia’s proprietary AlOx technology for applications in near-term markets.
New White Paper Release: PIC-EDWAs - Compact and Scalable Amplification Solutions for Integrated Photonics
Aluvia Photonics has published a new white paper offering an in-depth look at Erbium-Doped Waveguide Amplifiers (EDWAs) and their role in next-generation photonic systems. Optical amplification is fundamental to modern photonics, and this paper explores the evolution of amplifier technologies - from established EDFAs and SOAs to the emerging potential of EDWAs.
📖 Table of Contents:
🔹 Optical Amplifiers: Essential Building Blocks for Photonics Systems
🔹 Mechanisms of Optical Amplification
🔹 Established Optical Amplifier Technologies: EDFAs and SOAs
🔹 Emerging Optical Amplifier Technologies: EDWAs
🔸 What is an EDWA?
🔸 How EDWAs compare to EDFAs and SOAs?
🔸 Applications driving EDWA R&D
🔸 Scalability of the EDWA manufacturing process
🔹 PIC-EDWA Evaluation Kit by Aluvia Photonics
This paper highlights how EDWAs combine the best of fiber and semiconductor amplifiers, offering high performance, wafer-level scalability, and seamless integration into photonic circuits. As photonic systems demand ever-smaller and more efficient amplification solutions, EDWAs are poised to play a transformative role across industries.
Aluvia Photonics, PHIX, indie, and University of Twente Collaborate on a Narrow-Linewidth Laser Operating at 405 nm
ALUVIA Photonics announces the realization of a first-in-class narrow linewidth laser operating at 405 nm enabled by the ultra-low loss photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology of ALUVIA. The new devices were developed in collaboration with partners indie, University of Twente, and PHIX Photonics Assembly.
The tunable laser can be seen at the booth of ALUVIA Photonics during Photonics West 2025, taking place from January 25–30 in San Francisco, California. Visit Aluvia’s booth to explore how the aluminium oxide PIC platform can enable your applications.
Aluvia Photonics and PHIX Collaborate on Integrated Optical Amplifiers, Unveiling New PIC-EDWA Devices at Photonics West 2025
Aluvia Photonics, a leading innovator in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), proudly announces the successful demonstration of its next-generation C and L-band integrated optical amplifiers, known as Erbium-Doped Waveguide Amplifiers (PIC-EDWAs). Developed in collaboration with PHIX Photonics Assembly, these amplifiers leverage Aluvia’s proprietary AlOx:Er3+ gain technology to deliver high external fiber-to-fiber gain (>25 dB) and low noise figure (comparable to EDFA’s), while offering integration possibilities on various PIC platforms, like silicon photonics. These new devices mark a significant milestone in advancing amplifier integration for optical communications and quantum computing.
Aluvia Photonics attends SPIE Photonics West 2025
Enschede, the Netherlands– January 13, 2025- Aluvia will be exhibiting at SPIE Photonics West, 25 - 30 January 2025 in San Francisco.
We will present our latest advancements in Erbium Doped Waveguide Amplifiers (EDWAs), with a specific focus on their applications in integrated photonics for telecommunications. Demo material will be available showcasing the exceptional gain performance of doped AlOx (30dB).
Our team - Sonia M. Garcia Blanco, CSO, and Steve Stoffels, CEO - look forward to discussing how Aluvia’s amplifiers can support your application roadmaps.
Aluvia offers significant advantages in integrated photonics through its AlOx PIC platform: it enables broadband operation across 200–3000 nm, achieves state-of-the-art low propagation losses, and provides on-chip optical gain through doping with Yb, Er, Nd, and Tm. Our sputtering approach ensures high industrial scalability, making (doped) AlOx an ideal choice for commercial applications.
We invite potential customers to schedule meetings with us during the event. For meeting inquiries, please contact info@aluviaphotonics.com.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Aluvia Photonics wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy 2025!
Aluvia Photonics delivers Multi-Project Wafers for QU-PIC project
Enschede, the Netherlands– December 10, 2024- We are pleased to share that Aluvia has successfully delivered Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) dies for the QU-PIC project. This marks an important step forward in the development of quantum photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and highlights the potential for scalable quantum technologies.
Our MPW platform supports the co-fabrication of multiple device designs on a single wafer, offering a cost-effective and efficient approach to prototyping. These dies are capable of supporting devices across the broadband transparency window of our platform, spanning wavelengths from the ultraviolet (UV) to the infrared (IR). This flexibility ensures compatibility with a wide range of quantum and photonic applications.
🔑 **Key Highlights:**
- Precision-engineered photonic circuits tailored for quantum applications.
- Scalable designs to support next-gen quantum photonic systems.
- Compatibility across UV to IR wavelengths, enabling diverse device functionality.
- Cost-effective prototyping through multi-design wafer integration.
The QU-PIC project’s overarching goal is to create a toolkit of PIC quantum building blocks that facilitates the swift progression from conceptualization to a fully packaged quantum computing system. By developing essential technologies within the European supply chain, QU-PIC seeks to contribute significantly to establishing European sovereignty in the emerging quantum field.
This initiative illustrates the value of collaboration and innovation in pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in quantum photonics. We are proud to contribute to this important project.
Aluvia Photonics announces collaboration on PDK development with Epiphany Design
Enschede, the Netherlands– December 5, 2024- Aluvia Photonics, the leading supplier of photonic integrated circuits (PIC) on the aluminium oxide platform, proudly announces its collaboration with the Epiphany, a photonic design house. Together, the two companies aim to enhance Aluvia Photonics’s Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) services with process design kits (PDK) compatible with multiple design software. This partnership will simplify and accelerate the design process for Aluvia’s proprietary aluminium oxide PIC platform, which is unique for its low loss at UV and visible light wavelengths. The distinctive properties of Aluvia’s platform empower designers to innovate across a broad spectrum of photonic applications, ranging from telecommunications and data centers to quantum computing and sensing technologies.
PDKs are essential for PIC design, providing the tools, templates, and models required to ensure manufacturability and validate designs. Together, Aluvia and Epiphany developed the PDK for Aluvia’s technology in the xPDK definition. By using xPDK, design kits can be converted to different software tools such as OptoDesigner or Klayout, while keeping maintenance at a minimum. Epiphany’s expertise in working with advanced photonic processes will be instrumental in accelerating the PDK development and design process for Aluvia Photonics.
Aluvia’s MPW services offer cost-effective, high-quality prototyping options by enabling multiple participants to share wafer space, significantly reducing the upfront costs of photonic chip development. The enhanced PDKs will further streamline this process, providing designers with the tools to create innovative and optimized designs while maintaining the flexibility to support future advancements.
The first release of the jointly developed PDK will be available in MPW Run 5, with a registration deadline of December 31, 2024. Future updates will include additional design features and process improvements. The MPW schedule of 2025 can be found at: https://lnkd.in/e626penq.
About Aluvia Photonics
Established in 2022 as a spin-off from the University of Twente, Aluvia Photonics is at the forefront of commercializing extensive PIC developments originating from the IOS group led by Prof. Sonia García Blanco. With over a decade of world-class photonics R&D, the company is poised to make significant contributions to the field. For more information, visit www.aluviaphotonics.com.
About Epiphany
Epiphany is a Netherlands-based photonic design house specializing in photonic integrated circuits (PICs). With expertise spanning design software, material platforms, foundries, and packaging, Epiphany delivers end-to-end design solutions tailored to customer needs. For more information, visit www.epiphany-design.com.
Aluvia Photonics celebrates Sonia García Blanco’s recognition in the 2024 Photonics 100 list
ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands - November 6, 2024 - We are thrilled to share that our founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Sonia M. Garcia Blanco, has been honored with a spot on this year’s prestigious Photonics 100 list — a recognition that highlights the most innovative and impactful individuals shaping the future of the photonics industry. 🚀
This achievement is a testament to Sonia’s outstanding contributions to the field of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), particularly her groundbreaking work in developing AlOx-based photonic IC technology. Over the past decade, Sonia’s research has been at the forefront of advancing photonics, laying the foundation for the technology that powers Aluvia Photonics today.
Her relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence has not only redefined the possibilities of integrated photonics but also validated the transformative potential of AlOx as a material system. These developments are now central to our work at Aluvia, positioning the company at the cutting edge of photonics technology for a range of high-impact applications.
A heartfelt congratulations to Sonia on this well-deserved recognition. 🎉 This accolade underscores the years of dedication, passion, and hard work that have driven her success and, by extension, the growth of Aluvia Photonics. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to continuing to break new ground in the photonics industry under her guidance.
👏 Please join us in celebrating Sonia's success and this major milestone for Aluvia!
Aluvia Photonics welcomes Steve Stoffels as new CEO
ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands - September 1, 2024 -🚀 Exciting News! Aluvia Photonics is thrilled to welcome Steve Stoffels as our new CEO! With nearly 20 years of experience in high tech, deep tech, and medtech, Steve excels in moving early-stage technology platforms from the lab to industrial production-ready environments. His extensive leadership in founding and scaling technology-driven companies positions us for continued innovation and growth.
In addition, we are delighted to announce the opening of our first office at the High Tech Factory on the University of Twente campus! 🏢✨ This strategic location enables us to provide cutting-edge foundry services for aluminium oxide-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs), set to revolutionize industries like telecommunications, healthcare, and data centers.
We're also excited to welcome Michiel de Goede as Principal Engineer, specializing in photonics and integrated optics.
Explore the groundbreaking possibilities of aluminium oxide-based PICs with us!
Aluvia Photonics Sets New Records with On-Chip Optical Amplifiers at Photonics West Conference
ENSCHEDE, The Netherlands - January 23, 2024 - Aluvia Photonics, a pioneering developer of photonics integrated circuits (PICs) utilizing the proprietary Al2O3 platform, will showcase latest achievements in on-chip optical amplifiers during the Photonics West conference.
The newly unveiled devices exhibit exceptional performance, boasting impressive specifications:
>30 dB small signal internal net gain at 1532 nm
>1 W Output Power at 1900 nm
800 W peak power, 116 fs amplified pulses at 1900 nm
These outcomes are made possible through the incorporation of rare-earth ions into the Al2O3 via co-sputtering, enabling emission at key wavelengths: 1000 nm (Yb3+ and Nd3+), 1300 nm (Nd3+), C-band (Er3+), and 1800-2000nm (Tm3+).
Aluvia Photonics has successfully demonstrated the integration of these cutting-edge active components onto various PIC platforms available in the market. Notably, the combination of Al2O3 actives with the state-of-art SiN solutions from LioniX International and LIGENTEC has been showcased, highlighting the versatility and adaptability of the technology.
Aluvia Photonics is extending its offerings to a diverse range of PIC markets, including telecom, datacom, and quantum computing. The company is currently providing samples of pre-commercial products to application partners in these markets, with plans to establish a commercial pilot-scale production later in 2024.
"Integrating active components on-chip marks a significant technical achievement for Aluvia Photonics. The positive market reaction has been truly encouraging. We are excited about the prospect of bringing this new product to as many PICs as possible and believe this innovation will have a lasting impact across various industries.”- says Prof. Sonia García Blanco, Co-founder of Aluvia Photonics.
Aluvia Photonics will be exhibiting and Photonics West 2024 (Jan 30th-Feb 1st, 2024), booth 5310.
For media inquiries and meeting requests, please contact:
PW2024@aluviaphotonics.com
About Aluvia Photonics:
Established in 2022 as a spin-off from the University of Twente, Aluvia Photonics is at the forefront of commercializing extensive Al2O3 PIC developments originating from the IOS group led by Prof. Sonia García Blanco. With over a decade of world-class photonics R&D, the company is poised to make significant contributions to the field.
EU project statements:
[1] Part of this work was developed as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101017136 (Ophellia project: https://lidar-ophellia.eu/).
[2] Part of this work was developed as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 965124 (FEMTOCHIP: https://www.femtochip.eu/).
Scientific publications:
D.B. Bonneville et. al., “High on-chip gain spiral Al2O3:Er3+ waveguide amplifiers,” Optica Open. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.1364/opticaopen.24877728.v1.
N. Singh et. al., "Silicon photonics based high-energy passively Q-switched laser," accepted for publication in Nature Photonics. See preprint in arXiv2303.00849.
M. A. Gafaar et. al., “Femtosecond pulse amplification on a chip,” arXiv2311.04758.