CMOS-Compatible Silicon Integrated Photonics-based WDM Node

ABSTRACT: Structured Materials Industries, Inc. and the Cornell Nanophotonics Group propose to develop a compact, low-power WDM module for fiber optic networks which combines integrated photonics and CMOS electronics on one substrate. The WDM module will use demonstrated, innovative, very compact, and low power silicon photonic ring resonator structures for multiplexing and add-drop functionality. These electrically-controlled ring resonator-based devices provide subnanosecond switching speeds for network reconfigurations. The silicon photonic devices are very small, on the order of 20 m X 20 m, allowing the integration of many devices on a single chip, and like silicon integrated circuits, the fabricated chips are rugged and easily packaged. This technology takes advantage of existing, well established silicon fabrication and processing technologies which assures high quality, scalable production. SMI and Cornell have experience developing and demonstrating this silicon-based integrated photonics platform featuring gigahertz switching and low loss waveguides and efficient coupling between fibers and integrated photonic waveguides to control assembly cost and assure reliable connectivity. BENEFIT: In addition to the application as a WDM module, this basic technology will aid in the development of integrated photonics. Other applications for this technology include high-speed inter-chip optical buses for computing and additional fiber optic communication components. Integrated photonics devices will allow new devices for processing data in high bandwidth applications including remote sensing and arrayed radars, and communications.