Photonics Integration

Over the past several decades, photonics has steadily increased in importance as the preferred medium for data communications. With increased demand for higher bandwidth and more energy-efficient data transfer, optical fibers soon will replace copper wire even for simple tasks such as communications between computers and their displays as well as communications between nodes within supercomputers and microprocessors within server farms. Within such systems, optical signal processing and switching technologies have performed the relatively simple tasks of signal multiplexing, demultiplexing, amplification, routing and dispersion control. More complex tasks are typically performed electronically after optical to electrical conversion and subsequent electrical to optical conversion procedures.

Within the past several years, lithographically defined electronic and photonic circuits have been integrated into systems that enable complex functionality. Now, it is possible to contemplate including photonic logic and storage into such circuits. In particular, such integration could lead to the opportunity of reducing the overall energy requirements of computer systems.