Linear integrated optics in 3C silicon carbide.

The development of new photonic materials that combine diverse optical capabilities is needed to boost the integration of different quantum and classical components within the same chip. Amongst all candidates, the superior optical properties of cubic silicon carbide (3C SiC) could be merged with its crystalline point defects, enabling single photon generation, manipulation and light-matter interaction on a single device. The development of photonics devices in SiC has been limited by the presence of the silicon substrate, over which thin crystalline films are heteroepitaxially grown. By employing a novel approach in the material fabrication, we demonstrate grating couplers with coupling efficiency reaching -6 dB, sub-µm waveguides and high intrinsic quality factor (up to 24,000) ring resonators. These components are the basis for linear optical networks and essential for developing a wide range of photonics component for non-linear and quantum optics.