Photonics Research, Volume. 3, Issue 5, B10(2015)

Silicon and hybrid silicon photonic devices for intra-datacenter applications: state of the art and perspectives [Invited]

Yu Li1, Yu Zhang1, Lei Zhang1,2, and Andrew W. Poon1、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Photonic Device Laboratory, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
  • 2State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, Institute of Semiconductors,Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 912, Beijing, China
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    We review the state of the art and our perspectives on silicon and hybrid silicon photonic devices for optical interconnects in datacenters. After a brief discussion of the key requirements for intra-datacenter optical interconnects, we propose a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM)-based optical interconnect for intra-datacenter applications. Following our proposed interconnects configuration, the bulk of the review emphasizes recent developments concerning on-chip hybrid silicon microlasers and WDM transmitters, and silicon photonic switch fabrics for intra-datacenters. For hybrid silicon microlasers andWDM transmitters, we outline the remaining challenges and key issues toward realizing low power consumption, direct modulation, and integration of multiwavelength microlaser arrays. For silicon photonic switch fabrics, we review various topologies and configurations of high-port-count N-by-N switch fabrics using Mach–Zehnder interferometers and microring resonators as switch elements, and discuss their prospects toward practical implementations with active reconfiguration. For the microring-based switch fabrics, we review recent developments of active stabilization schemes at the subsystem level. Last, we outline several large challenges and problems for silicon and hybrid silicon photonics to meet for intra-datacenter applications and propose potential solutions.Optoelectronics;Diode laser arrays;Diode lasers;Laser resonators

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    Yu Li, Yu Zhang, Lei Zhang, Andrew W. Poon. Silicon and hybrid silicon photonic devices for intra-datacenter applications: state of the art and perspectives [Invited][J]. Photonics Research, 2015, 3(5): B10

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    Paper Information

    Category: INTEGRATED PHOTONICS: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

    Received: Apr. 3, 2015

    Accepted: May. 29, 2015

    Published Online: Jan. 6, 2016

    The Author Email: Andrew W. Poon (eeawpoon@ust.hk)

    DOI:10.1364/prj.3.000b10

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