A roadmap to a technological platform for integrating nanophotonic structures with micromechanical systems in silicon-on-insulator

On the foundation of joint experience acquired by several research centres there was defined the roadmap to the desired single technological platform for fabrication of a specific class of photonic integrated circuits, which are controlled by mechanical means. In the paper the challenges of fabrication of such photonic circuits are discussed. The main arguments in favour of the Silicon-on-Insulator materials system as the basis for the platform are presented. Options for the mechanics-to-optics arrangement, materials and processes are described and illustrated with the current achievements from the authors' labs. In the roadmap the preference is given to the vertical arrangement in which, the mechanical part is stacked above the waveguiding layer. A flexible trimming routine is designed to complement the process flow if the technologies developed cannot provide the required reproducibility

The pollution of surface water in the agricultural catchment against the background of agrarian structure and production intensity

The intensification of agricultural production is one of the factors determining economic development. Increasing mechanisation and use of fertilisers in agriculture lead to higher yields, but at the same time they can pose a threat to the environment. The overuse of chemical fertilisers contributes to increased concentration of nutrients in agricultural runoff. One of such areas is the Szreniawa River catchment, the study area located in the southern part of Poland. In this catchment, intensive mostly mechanical ploughing is applied in, for instance, vegetable production. The area has loess soils, which with intensive ploughing are susceptible to erosion. The study aims to determine changes in the quality of flowing waters against the background of agricultural production and land-use characteristics. Surface waters were classified as class II and occurred at all analysed points. The highest concentrations of N-NO3 , N-NH 4 and P-PO 4 were found at a point in the middle of the catchment (lower part of research area). There, the lowest concentrations were recorded in 2018, which was related to the amount of precipitation during the growing season. On the other hand, the volume of plant and animal production closely correlated with the quality of surface water in the area. This was also confirmed by the land use structure. In conclusion, intensive agricultural production, mainly in terms of plough tillage causes significant hazards associated with soil erosion especially on agriculturally sensitive soils, although it provides good yields

A roadmap to a technological platform for integrating nanophotonic structures with micromechanical systems in silicon-on-insulator

On the foundation of joint experience acquired by several research centres there was defined the roadmap to the desired single technological platform for fabrication of a specific class of photonic integrated circuits, which are controlled by mechanical means. In the paper the challenges of fabrication of such photonic circuits are discussed. The main arguments in favour of the Silicon-on-Insulator materials system as the basis for the platform are presented. Options for the mechanics-to-optics arrangement, materials and processes are described and illustrated with the current achievements from the authors' labs. In the roadmap the preference is given to the vertical arrangement in which, the mechanical part is stacked above the waveguiding layer. A flexible trimming routine is designed to complement the process flow if the technologies developed cannot provide the required reproducibility