Towards a revolution in optical communications

Lead Research Organisation: University of Southampton
Department Name: Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC)

Abstract

Silicon Photonics is currently transforming data communications, and beginning to impact longer reach applications. However, Silicon Photonics is now maturing and current commercially available transceivers mainly utilise modulators operating at 25Gb/s. Laboratory demonstrators for next generation systems either use multiple parallel lanes of 25Gb/s devices, or perhaps more complex modulation techniques to achieve higher aggregate data rates. Even the fastest research modulators, when integrated with drivers, operate up to approximately 50Gb/s OOK (or corresponding PAM4 modulation to reach a net aggregate speed of 100Gb/s). Researchers worldwide are trying to improve such modulators to squeeze the last few percentage points of improved performance out of these devices, or are turning to integration of other materials, which increases fabrication complexity and cost, and potentially reduces yield. In this work we have invented a way to improve the modulator/driver combination not by a few percent, but by 100%, which will lead to dramatic improvements in data rate, power consumption, and cost of implementation. We will demonstrate 100Gb/s OOK and 200Gb/s PAM4, as well as a novel Optical Time Division Multiplexing (OTDM) system. In effect, we have found a way to transfer functions that were traditionally done in the electronic domain, to the optical domain, saving cost and energy and dramatically improving performance.

The proposal provides detailed simulations of the proposed work as preparatory demonstration of the viability of the new techniques. This includes typical characteristics of modulators previously fabricated at the Southampton, which will now be operated in a different mode. Consequently, we are confident that the chances of success are very high.

Electronic drivers will be designed at Southampton and subcontracted to TSMC in Taiwan for fabrication. All optical devices will be fabricated at Southampton using the Silicon Photonics Foundry service called CORNERSTONE.

The new approach has already led to 2 patent applications, and we suspect others will follow as we progress with the research. Both investigators and the research investigator are inventors, so the team is ideally placed to carry out the work.
 
Description This programme has contributed to several important milestones for silicon photonics modulators. Firstly we have demonstrated two different types of modulator that have the fastest performance in class. We have also developed the understanding of the operation of one of these modulators in a new way to achieve better performance at lower power. These are important for the future of telecomms and datacomms.
Exploitation Route We have filed a patent as a result of the work in the programme. When it is granted it will enable others to licence the technology from us, or acquire it.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

 
Description A patent application has been made for a novel modulator. If and shen this is granted, it will enable industrial impact.
First Year Of Impact 2024
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
 
Title An integrated CMOS-silicon-photonics transmitter with a 112 gigabaud transmission and picojoule per bit energy efficiency 
Description Data source of the article "An integrated CMOS-silicon-photonics transmitter with a 112 gigabaud transmission and picojoule per bit energy efficiency " 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/An_integrated_CMOS_silicon-photonics_transmitte...
 
Title An integrated CMOS-silicon-photonics transmitter with a 112 gigabaud transmission and picojoule per bit energy efficiency 
Description Data source of the article "An integrated CMOS-silicon-photonics transmitter with a 112 gigabaud transmission and picojoule per bit energy efficiency " 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/An_integrated_CMOS_silicon-photonics_transmitte...
 
Description Peking University 
Organisation Peking University
Country China 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution All design, fabrication and integration of photonics devices.
Collaborator Contribution Digital Signal Processing
Impact Publications as recorded in the output section
Start Year 2023