Silicon Photonics

Applications

Introduction

Photonics is the technology of signal processing, transmission and

detection where the signal is carried by photons (light)

Optical technology has always suffered from its reputation for being
an expensive solution, due to its use of exotic materials and
expensive manufacturing processes.
Silicon photonics is an evolving technology in which data is
transferred among computer chips by optical rays. Optical rays can
carry far more data in less time than electrical conductors.

Purpose of Silicon Photonics

The computing and communications industries

face increasing challenges to deliver more data
faster
Silicon photonics may even have applications
beyond digital communications, including optical
debug of high-speed data, expanding wireless
networks by transporting analog RF signals, and
enabling lower-cost lasers for certain biomedical
applications.

Main building blocks for investigation

Applications

1. Continuous Silicon Laser

Two-Photon Absorption

2. First GHz Silicon Modulator

3. The First Cascaded Silicon Raman Laser

4. Practical silicon-core optical fiber

Optical fibres typically comprise a glass core surrounded by another

glass of similar composition and are fabricated by a process of heating
and drawing out into long wires. The US team is using a similar
manufacturing approach but has replaced the glass core with silicon.

The silicon-core optical fibre is fabricated by sleeving the silicon

core inside a silica (glass) cladding at the temperature where the
glass cladding softens and draws into fibre (approximately 1950C).