The State-of-the-Art Phase-Change Integrated Photonic Devices With Electrically Driven Microheaters

Phase-change integrated photonics devices, evolving from the combinations of phase-change materials (PCMs) and silicon photonics, are subjecting to intensive research today. This is because phase-change integrated photonics devices inherit performances superiorities of both phase-change storage memory and silicon photonics in data transmission system. The programming mechanism of phase-change integrated photonic devices can be either optically driven switching or electrically driven switching. In comparison with its optical rival, electrically driven switching, usually realized by an integrated microheater, requires simpler programming scenario and less complex circuits and thus leads to a variety of microheater designs. To more comprehensively understand the physics behind different designs and to distinguish their performances variations, we first reviewed the operational principles of phase-change integrated photonics devices in association with common phase-change photonic materials. The current status of electrically driven switching-based devices is subsequently elaborated according to different microheaters, and their respective merits and drawbacks are interpreted. The technical challenges and future prospects of phase-change integrated photonics devices are eventually discussed.