Publication

Efficient data transfer between memory and photonic components is critical for a broad spectrum of applications. However, conventional architectures face significant challenges related to the memory wall, emphasizing the need for fast, low-energy electro-optic photonic memory solutions. In this work, we present a class of energy-efficient electro-optic devices, termed Pockels photonic memory, which leverage low-field-switchable ferroelectrics in combination with the Pockels effect in lithium niobate.

We detail an integrated implementation consisting of a ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET) coupled with a lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) microring resonator. The device exhibits switchable, nonvolatile multi-level optical memory operation, supporting six distinct states per transistor with ultra-low energy consumption on the order of femtojoules per state. It also demonstrates robust data retention projected up to 10 years and read–write endurance exceeding 10⁷ cycles. Furthermore, we demonstrate linear stacking of memory states, highlighting the potential for fine-grained optical state control.

The proposed Pockels photonic memory provides a scalable approach to implementing reconfigurable photonic systems with femtojoule-per-state energy efficiency, addressing key bottlenecks in energy- and speed-limited photonic computation.

Researcher/Author: 

Xu Zefeng

Publication  :  Nat Commun 16, 8329 (2025)   

Date : 19 September 2025