New platform integrates THz photonics with planarized low-loss polymers

Integrated photonics extensively uses on-chip optical elements such as sources, splitters, modulators, and high-confinement waveguides embedded in a planar platform to efficiently process and route optical signals. There is a growing interest in integrated Mid-IR and THz photonics for telecommunications and sensing. In the THz frequency range, a prominent candidate for source integration is the THz quantum cascade laser.