Title :
8/spl times/8 array of cascadable optical thyristor devices for free-space parallel optical interconnects
Author :
Heremans, P. ; Kuijk, M. ; Knupfer, B. ; Borghs, G.
Author_Institution :
IMEC, Leuven, Belgium
Abstract :
We conceived a novel layer structure for optical thyristors, which greatly enhances the input-light sensitivity of such devices, We present measurements showing that a differential pair of our thyristors is, to our knowledge, the fastest and most sensitive cascadable emitter/receiver device existing today, capable of detecting optical pulses, emitted from a similar device, of 0.14 femtoJoulespl mu/m/sup 2/ at a clock rate of 12 MHz. These thyristor pairs can, moreover, be integrated into compact 2-dimensional arrays. We demonstrate a fully functional monolithic array of 8/spl times/8 pairs. This work is a commendable step towards low-power, fast and parallel optical interconnects.<>
Keywords :
integrated circuit interconnections; optical interconnections; optical receivers; optical transmitters; photoconducting switches; photothyristors; 12 MHz; cascadable emitter/receiver device; cascadable optical thyristor devices; differential pair; free-space optical interconnects; fully functional monolithic array; input-light sensitivity; layer structure; optical pulses; parallel optical interconnects; two-dimensional arrays; Optical arrays; Optical detectors; Optical devices; Optical pulses; Optical receivers; Optical sensors; Pulse measurements; Stimulated emission; Thyristors; Ultrafast optics;
Conference_Titel :
Electron Devices Meeting, 1994. IEDM '94. Technical Digest., International
Conference_Location :
San Francisco, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2111-1
DOI :
10.1109/IEDM.1994.383343