Photonic integrated circuit and methods for manufacturing and operating the same

A Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), comprising:

• a light-emitting structure configured to emit light;
• a modulation structure configured to modulate the light;
• and
• a coupling structure configured to:
• (i) couple the light emitted by the light-emitting structure to the modulation structure, and (ii) electrically isolate the light-emitting structure from the modulation structure;
• wherein the light-emitting structure, the modulation structure and the coupling structure comprise at least one common underlying non-conductive layer and at least two common semiconductor (SC) layers provided on the at least one common underlying non-conductive layer;
• and
• wherein the modulation structure comprises at least one optical waveguide each at least partly implemented in the at least two common SC layers, each of the at least one optical waveguide comprising a waveguide cladding and a waveguide core embedded in the waveguide cladding, the waveguide core comprising at least two waveguide elements spaced apart from each other by an electro-optic material, the electro-optic material having a variable refractive index and being part of the waveguide cladding, the at least two waveguide elements being configured to provide electro-optic modulation of the light in response to a drive voltage applied across the at least two waveguide elements.