Photonic integration: Technologies and applications

Advances in telecommunication and information technologies are fueled by innovations resulting from strategic research. Strategic research may be defined as that mission-oriented research which pursues specific and realistic goals leading to practical applications. Photonic integration, a research activity since the beginnings of optical communication over 35 years ago, with the goal to reduce packaging cost and component foot-print while enhancing subsystem functionality, reliability, performance and cost-effectiveness, is a compelling example of strategic research for optical communications. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) consisting of a few integrated devices on InP or silica substrates have found commercial application in WDM lightwave transmission systems since the late 1990s. Recently, multi-wavelength (WDM) transmitter and receiver PICs consisting of several tens of arrayed devices integrated on InP substrates have emerged as cost-effective subsystems deployed in commercial systems. In the meantime, research on photonic integration advances to include divers material platforms, novel physical effects, different fabrication techniques, and nanotechnologies. This rump session will present some of the on-going research in the field of photonic integration, address specific technological strengths and challenges, discuss costeffectiveness if possible, and consider potential applications and impact.