Gain-lOss Dynamics and hybridiZation in Integrated nanoLaser Arrays – GODZILA

The ultra-dense integration of nanophotonic components now allows for the development of all-optical computers that are more energy-efficient and faster than analogous artificial intelligence solutions emulated on computers. To achieve this, it is necessary to conceive new concepts and implement them in compact and high-performance devices.
The GODZILA project aims to explore an approach based on the coupling of III-V semiconductor nanolasers within integrated networks on silicon photonic circuitry. In these systems, recent work has shown that the competition between gain and loss can lead to a rich dynamic behaviour, including self-pulsation regimes and oscillations at high bandwidths (>10 GHz). We will experimentally study these dynamic regimes in networks with complexity made modular by the interconnection of nanolasers via a waveguide, allowing for one-to-all couplings that are generally impossible in existing cavity networks. To exploit this complexity, we will implement experimental methods to control the network parameters – gains, couplings, and emission frequencies – thereby assessing their potential for achieving all-optical computation.
This JCJC project will rely on a combination of analytical tools, numerical simulations, cleanroom fabrication, and experimental validations. It aims to initiate a research line focused on understanding nonlinear collective dynamics in non-Hermitian photonics while contributing to fundamental physics and the development of new integrated nanophotonic technologies.