Nonreciprocal integrated magneto-optics: from optical isolators to new applications in communications, sensing, and computing

16 Gennaio 2026
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Aula Riunioni DII 
Piano Terra
Via Caruso 16 Pisa

Abstract

Magneto-optic materials are characterized by their ability to modify the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light propagating through them in the presence of an external magnetic field. What makes these materials unique is that these optical properties are nonreciprocal, meaning that they depend on the direction of light propagation. This behavior underpins key devices such as optical isolators and circulators. Despite their importance, the widespread adoption of magneto-optic materials in integrated photonics has been limited by challenges in material processing within photonic foundries, as well as by their relatively large optical absorption. Recent advances in material integration and nanofabrication have opened new opportunities to exploit magneto-optic effects beyond conventional nonreciprocal components. In this talk, I will present recent progress in the integration of magneto-optic materials and discuss emerging applications spanning communications, sensing, and novel computing paradigms.

 

Biography:

Paolo Pintus is an Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, Italy, and an affiliated researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, and the Central European Institute of Technology in Brno, Czech Republic. His research interests focus on silicon photonics, optoelectronic devices, and computational electromagnetics. He received the M.S. degree with honors in electronic engineering from the University of Cagliari in 2007 and the Ph.D. degree with honors in telecommunication engineering from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy, in 2012. He was a Research Fellow at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (2012-2016) and a Project Scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara (2016-2022). Dr. Pintus holds seven patents and has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications. He serves as an Associate Editor for Optics Express and was a program committee member for Optica IPR, PSC, IEEE Silicon Photonics, IEEE Summer Topicals, and CLEO. He is an IEEE Senior Member.