Our lab designs, fabricates, tests, and integrates photonic devices and systems in silicon nitride. These devices leverage the low optical loss of silicon nitride to realize novel functionality such as ultra-high-Q waveguide resonators, narrow linewidth on-chip laser sources, and photonic molecules. We demonstrate these devices operating at the system scale in applications ranging from atomic-referenced metrology, to low power, ultra-high-capacity optical communications for tomorrow’s energy efficient hyperscale data centers.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We adhere to the basic principle that members of our community should treat each other with respect and decency at all times, and that we should not alienate, diminish, or insult each other, personally or professionally, either in word or deed. Based on this principle, we believe that well-being, respect, inclusion, collaboration, and mentorship are moral imperatives that are vital to our teaching and research mission. As individuals and as a community we constantly work to avoid all forms of discrimination, including explicit, implicit, and/or unintended bias.

Announcements

New Group Name! Formerly known as OCPI, we have updated our group name to the OCAQπ Group

Open Positions We are looking for exceptional postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate students to join our team. Contact Professor Blumenthal at danb@ece.ucsb.edu with a brief description of interests and CV attached.

Recent News

September 21, 2024

Our journal publication entitled 'Anneal-free ultra-low loss silicon nitride integrated photonics' was selected by Light: Science & Applications (LSA) as the Top Downloaded Paper in August 2024.

September 12, 2024

Prof. Dawn Tan, Head of the Photonics Devices and Systems Group at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, has released a news article highlighting the impact of our "Anneal-free ultra-low loss silicon nitride integrated photonics" publication.

August 20, 2024

We report a significant advancement in high-performance integrated resonators based on a two-point-coupling design that achieves critical coupling simultaneously at multiple wavelengths across wide wavebands and tuning of the coupling condition at any wavelength, from under-, through critically, to over-coupled.

July 10, 2024

We report the lowest losses to date for an anneal-free process at a maximum temperature 250 °C

June 21, 2024

"Chip-Scale Visible Sources Aim to Release Quantum Technology from the Lab"

April 4, 2024

We are pleased to announce that our group has updated our name to OCAQπ, Optical Communications and Atomic Quantum Photonic Integration.

March 29, 2024

Please join the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering on April 2, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern for a Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Daniel Blumenthal of the University of California, Santa Barbara, on “Visible Light to Mid-Infrared Photonics for Atomic and Quantum Applications.” 

Funding sources
Funding sources
Academic and government collaborators
Academic and government collaborators
Industry Affiliates
Industry Affiliates
Societies
Societies
Research