NARLabs’ Taiwan Instrument Research Institute (TIRI) has played an active role in the electronics and optoelectronics research conducted by National Taiwan University professor Wen-Jeng Hsueh’s laboratory, the results of which have been published in Scientific Reports – an academic journal published by Nature. Hsueh’s team found that conjugated topological photonic crystals (CTPC)[1] possess remarkable topological protection qualities[2] and are not impacted by manufacturing imperfections or impurities. CTPCs can be applied to cutting-edge optical filter and optical communication components, while achieving high-quality and perfect transmission.

In addition to this paper, professor Hsueh’s team published their work on Cantor set photonic crystals[3] in the Optical Society journal Optics Letters, in which 7 research papers from his group have been published in the last ten years. They found these crystals to possess ultra-slow light properties, capable of reducing the speed of light within crystals to below one meter per second. In other words, the average person riding a bicycle would be able to exceed this pace. When it comes to computational and storage capabilities in photonic computer and quantum computer photonic processors, slower light transmission allows for more efficient computing and storage. Thus, the slow light demonstrated in these crystals can greatly improve the storage capabilities and photonic processor precision of future photonic and quantum computers. These findings were selected as a key report in the edition of Optics Letters in which they appeared.

In establishing the Optical System Integration R&D Consortium in 2013, TIRI held firm to its mission of supporting frontier research while serving academic innovation and made a commitment to long-term academic research programs that promote scientific discovery. Professor Hsueh is an active participant in the annual forums held by this consortium, maintains close ties with TIRI and industry professionals, and has developed a deep understanding of where the industry stands. His team’s findings can be applied to optical filters, optical communication components as well as photonic computing and storage; areas that will accelerate the realization of both photonic and quantum computers.

TIRI will continue to support academic research and high-tech industry development, construct instrument technology platforms, and supply advanced instrument technology. We hope to facilitate exceptional research findings that raise Taiwan’s standards for academic research and advance the instrument technology used in high-tech industries.

National Taiwan University professor Hsueh Wen-Jeng attending an Optical System Integration R&D Consortium event

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[1]Conjugated topological photonic crystals (CTPC): Photonic crystals can control the movement of photons, not unlike the way in which semiconductor crystals control electron movement. CTPCs have a symmetrical structure and cause photons to only transmit along the surface of photonic crystals, reducing energy loss during optical transmission. This brings about increased transmittance without backscattered optical waveguide transmission.

2Topological protection: Even though small imperfections exist within the structure of photonic crystals, optical waveguides can still operate very well. This means that manufacturing imperfections do not have a significant impact.

3Cantor set photonic crystals: Using the mathematical concept of Cantor sets for the permutational structure of photonic crystals allows the structure to possess slow light properties.