Researchers at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the City University of Hong Kong, have developed a powerful new programmable photonic chip.
Made from a special material called thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), this chip is set to revolutionize radar and communication systems.
Their work, published in Nature Communications, could lead to faster, smaller, and more efficient optical devices.
Why this chip is special
TFLN is changing the way optical chips work by allowing light and electrical signals to interact more efficiently.
This means that key components like electro-optic modulators and signal processors can be combined on a single chip, making devices more compact and powerful than ever before.
The University of Twente team designed this new chip in close collaboration with City University of Hong Kong, where the fabrication takes place.
At the same time, similar chips are also being produced in the Netherlands at the MESA+ Nanolab as part of the PhotonDelta project, which focuses on advancing photonic technology.
One of the biggest breakthroughs of this research is that the chip is programmable. Unlike traditional photonic circuits that have fixed functions, this chip can be reconfigured for different tasks, just like an electronic chip.
By integrating a TFLN modulator with a network of programmable components, the researchers created a flexible chip that processes both radio and light signals.
“This brings us closer to real-world applications in high-performance communication and radar systems,” said Chuangchuang Wei, a Ph.D. student in the research group. The chip’s ability to be mass-produced also makes it a strong candidate for the future of photonic technologies.
One of the most exciting applications of this chip is its ability to protect communication systems from jamming. Jamming happens when a device floods a network with interference, making it hard to send or receive signals. This new chip features an anti-jammer function that blocks strong interference while still allowing weaker signals to pass through.
Unlike conventional filters, this chip is not limited by spectral resolution—which means it can separate signals even when they are very close in frequency. This makes it highly effective in blocking jamming signals that are nearly identical to communication signals. Such a capability is crucial for radar and future 6G networks, where traditional filters often fail in environments with dense interference.
This breakthrough paves the way for advanced radar systems, faster and more secure communication networks, and next-generation 6G technology.
With its ability to be programmable, highly efficient, and resistant to jamming, this photonic chip could transform how we use and protect wireless communication systems in the near future.
