MUltifunctional SIliCon Integrated NOEMS for broadband Access Networks

Nano-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (NOEMS) are devices in which electrons, photons and phonons can coexist and interact in the nanoscale. Upon proper engineering, NOEMS may perform functionalities that are essential in ICT systems, in particular in access networks that are characterized by requiring an interface with optical fibres as well as by managing microwave channels in which the information aimed at a certain user is encoded. The long-term vision of MUSICIAN is that next generation access networks, required to implement the IoT paradigm, can include low-cost silicon NOEMS – interfaced with optical fibres and microwave electronics – will perform network functionalities such as photonic local oscillators, frequency conversion or electro-optical modulation. To implement this vision, we will use a nanocrystalline-silicon NOEMS platform with piezoelectric actuation and optomechanical nanobeam cavities to achieve multiple functionalities on a single chip.