Germanium refers to a semiconductor material that is used in photodetection devices because it effectively absorbs light and converts it into an electrical signal. In silicon photonics platforms, germanium can be integrated alongside silicon to enhance the performance of photodetectors, particularly in terms of responsivity and sensitivity. This integration allows for advanced functionalities in optoelectronic devices, facilitating applications in reprogrammable photonics and neuromorphic photonics by improving the efficiency and versatility of light detection and signal processing.

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Multi-terminal Germanium Photodetector in a Commercial Silicon Photonics Platform

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We report responsivity measurements of a multiterminal photodetection device in a commercial silicon photonics platform. The ratio of measured responsivities is found to track the relative terminal lengths. This can serve as a highly compact optoelectronic tap/diplexer. More importantly, complex biasing conditions of similar devices are promising for onchip reprogrammable opto-electronic responses in conventional silicon photonic platforms, with applications in reprogrammable photonics and neuromorphic photonics.

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