Title :
Silicon integrated nanophotonics for on-chip optical interconnects
Author :
Vlasov, Yurii A. ; Green, William M J ; Assefa, Solomon ; Van Campenhout, Joris ; Kim, Young-Hee ; Xia, Fengnian
Author_Institution :
Thomas J. Watson Res. Center, IBM, Yorktown Heights, NY
Abstract :
As multi-core microprocessor architectures continue to evolve as a promising platform for high-performance computing, an additional set of challenges emerges for the global interconnects between distant cores. In particular, the limited throughput and large power consumption of electrical copper interconnects are becoming dominant factors limiting the continued scaling of processor performance. One promising solution is to complement conventional global interconnects with a CMOS-compatible intra-chip optical network, based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic integrated circuits. We will review recent results on silicon nanophotonic circuits based on SOI photonic wires and photonic crystals. Silicon nanophotonic devices have immense capacity for low-loss, high-bandwidth data transmission, and can confine light within sub-micron dimensions, enabling the design of ultra-compact optical devices for all necessary functions within such optical networks. While the bandwidth and power consumption advantages of SOI optical interconnects are potentially immense, ensuring the performance of chip-scale networks places stringent requirements upon the control of the manufacturing process, and its influence upon the operation of individual optical components. We will present recent work on the design, fabrication, and demonstration of various passive and electrooptic devices required for high speed optical interconnect applications, including high-order WDM optical filters, modulators, and switches.
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; elemental semiconductors; integrated optics; optical interconnections; silicon; silicon-on-insulator; CMOS-compatible intrachip optical network; electrical copper interconnects; on-chip optical interconnects; photonic crystals; photonic wires; silicon integrated nanophotonics; silicon-on-insulator photonic integrated circuits; Energy consumption; Integrated circuit interconnections; Nanophotonics; Optical design; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical interconnections; Photonic crystals; Photonic integrated circuits; Silicon;
Conference_Titel :
Group IV Photonics, 2008 5th IEEE International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Cardiff
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1769-8
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1768-1
DOI :
10.1109/GROUP4.2008.4638151