Photonic integration for high-volume, low-cost applications

To date, photonic integration has seen only limited use in a few optical interface applications. The recently adopted IEEE draft standards for 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Ethernet single-mode fiber local area network applications will change this situation. Although first generation implementations will use discrete components based on existing technologies, long-term requirements for significant reduction in cost, size, and power of 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s transceivers will lead to a broad demand for photonic integration. Both hybrid planar lightguide circuit and monolithic photonic integrated circuit are feasible approaches that meet the requirements of the new IEEE standards.