Dr. Lewis Carpenter

AIM Photonics' mission is to advance integrated photonic circuit manufacturing technology development in the United States.  We provide access to state-of-the-art integrated photonics fabrication, packaging, and testing facilities and services to industry, academia and the United States government. We develop new and innovative technologies, processes, and materials within the integrated photonics sphere, addressing high-risk/high-reward challenges in photonics integrated circuit manufacturing technology. We strive to create an adaptive integrated photonic circuit workforce capable of meeting the integrated photonics industry’s needs. Within this talk we will present the AIM Photonics' latest work on silicon photonic multi-wafer runs, process design kits, electronic-photonic design automation, research and development. 

Biography:

Dr. Carpenter has 15 years of research experience focused on the development of photonic,
nonlinear optic, and quantum technology (QT) devices - from concept, simulation, and design to
prototype, and manufacture.
He is currently the Photonics Development Manager, working at the American Institute for
Manufacturing (AIM) Photonics. AIM Photonics is the federally funded home of cutting edge
silicon photonic foundry services in a 300 mm, CMOS line. He is spearheading research in design,
simulation, prototyping, and manufacturing of next-generation silicon photonic devices, with a
focus on quantum technology. His current research interests includes: avalanche photodiodes,
photodiodes, modulation in aluminium nitride, frequency conversion in thick silicon nitride, and
passives in alumina.
He was a key member of the team that developed zinc doped MgO:PPLN (periodically poled
lithium niobate) ridge waveguides for Covesion while working at the University of Southampton.
PPLN waveguides are a key piece of Quantum Technology for quantum computing/memories
(atom/ion trapping) and quantum communications (single photon generation). The PPLN
waveguides developed generate new wavelengths of light at a multi-watt level with >50 % device
efficiencies. During device development Dr. Carpenter’s major contributions include waveguide
design/modelling, cleanroom and ultra-precision machining fabrication process development,
and nonlinear photonic characterization.
Dr. Carpenter received a PhD in 2013 from Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) University of
Southampton, under the supervision of Peter G.R. Smith. His research focused on creating ultra-
smooth micron scale features for integrated optics. He pioneered ductile mode machining with
ultra-precision dicing saws and micromilling techniques and used these ductile mode machining
techniques to create a variety of photonic devices - such as micro optomechanical systems,
physical/biological/refractive index sensors, and amplitude/phase modulators - in a plethora of
integrated material systems using silica, lithium niobate, silicon, gallium arsenide, germanium,
chalcogenide, etc. He received a first class Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the University
of Southampton (2009) and won the National Grid award for the highest awarded dissertation
mark.