Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-MRI program, the Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS) -Nanofabrication Facility at Harvard University has acquired Vanguard Automation’s SYMPHONY, a fully automated photonic integration and packaging solution enabling optical connectivity via Photonic Wire Bonding (PWB) and Facet-Attached Micro Lenses (FAML).
Karlsruhe, Germany, February 8, 2024 — Vanguard Automation (VA) announced today the commissioning of its SYMPHONY system at the Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS) at Harvard University, a leading nanofabrication facility focused on design and fabrication of nanoscale structures, and their integration into large and complex interacting systems. This equipment installation will advance CNS’s mission of fabricating and characterizing nanoscale devices and structures. The vanguard SYMPHONY is a next generation technology platform for photonic packaging and integration, enabling automatic fabrication of low loss interconnects between photonic components, removing the need for high-precision mechanical alignment and additional micro-optical elements for mode-matching. The solution is scalable from low volume R&D and prototyping work, up to volume production applications.
VA’s SYMPHONY system facilitates its users to reliably and repeatably fabricate multi-chip photonic subassemblies in various applications areas such as telecom / datacom, optical and quantum computing. Industry partners will benefit from using this system to both advance and accelerate their research and development activities. VA’s SYMPHONY is comprised of a 3D lithography-based nano fabrication unit and automated pre- and postprocessing unit, software to enable automated and adaptive fabrication of structures and material handling as well as compatibility with industry simulation software. The equipment can print virtually any micro-optical element and can fabricate lenses and Photonic Wire Bonds™ (PWB). PWBs are freeform, low loss optical waveguide structures connecting optical devices.
“We are excited to bring 3D-nanoprinting technology to Harvard,” said Dr. Jiangdong Deng, Associate Director at Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS), Harvard. “The Vanguard Automation system will enable engineers and researchers to rapidly evaluate and characterize advanced 3D-lithography based packaging and integration technologies in photonics research. Having access to production grade solutions will continue to drive collaboration with leading technology companies.”
“The installation of our SYMPHONY system at Harvard’s Center for Nanoscale Systems marks a significant milestone for our company,” stated Thorsten Mayer, CEO of Vanguard Automation. “The availability of this equipment at Harvard CNS will give photonics industry users, including many telecom / datacom, optical, and quantum computing organizations in the North-East corridor access to advanced photonic packaging tools.”