Optical device capable of causing a non-volatile phase shift in optical signal

An optical phase-shifter comprising:

• a silicon waveguide;
• a ferroelectric material layer formed over the silicon waveguide;
• a transition material layer comprising a transparent conductive material disposed in electrical contact with the ferroelectric material layer such that the ferroelectric material layer and the transition material layer are stacked vertically over the silicon waveguide;
• and
• a pair of electrodes comprising a first electrode formed on top of the transition material layer and in electrical contact with the transition material layer and a second electrode in electrical contact with the silicon waveguide,
• wherein an application of an operating voltage across the pair of electrodes causes a vertical electric field across the ferroelectric material layer resulting in a non-volatile phase-shift in an optical signal propagating via the silicon waveguide.

A computing system comprising:

• a circuit board;
• and
• a photonic integrated circuit mounted on the circuit board, wherein the photonic integrated circuit comprises an optical device, wherein the optical device comprises:
• an optical waveguide;
• a ferroelectric material layer formed over the optical waveguide;
• a transition material layer comprising a transparent conductive material disposed in electrical contact with the ferroelectric material layer such that the ferroelectric material layer and the transition material layer are stacked vertically over the optical waveguide;
• and
• a pair of electrodes comprising a first electrode in electrical contact with the transition material layer and a second electrode in electrical contact with the optical waveguide,
• wherein an application of an operating voltage across the pair of electrodes causes a vertical electric field across the ferroelectric material layer.