Wave Photonics, a Cambridge-based deep tech startup, has launched the SiNQ process, a silicon nitride fabrication process designed for quantum photonics and emitters. Developed in collaboration with CORNERSTONE at the University of Southampton, the process is supported by a 1056-element Process Design Kit (PDK) that covers 33 wavelengths from 493nm to 1550nm. The PDK leverages Wave Photonics’ computational design technology to address fabrication imperfections, achieving a 2x improvement in component performance uniformity compared to conventional methods, as validated by wafer-scale data from the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.
The PDK includes fabrication-aware S-Parameters for full circuit modeling and is compatible with industry-standard tools such as GDSFactory, Siemens L-Edit, and Luceda’s IPKISS. It also integrates with QPICPAC for turnkey packaging and PHIX for characterization. This development simplifies the design of quantum photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling faster and more reliable prototyping across a broad range of wavelengths.
The project was funded through a £500k Innovate UK initiative, with contributions from partners including Oxford Ionics and CSA Catapult. The collaboration highlights the growing importance of integrated photonics in advancing scalable quantum computing and other quantum technologies.
For technical details and a list of supported wavelengths and quantum systems, visit here. A press release announcing the availability of this SiNQ process can be accessed here.
January 28, 2025
