Kotura modulator demonstration may pave the way to silicon photonics circuits for optical interconnects
FEBRUARY 3, 2010 -- Silicon photonics specialist Kotura Inc. in Monterey Park, Calif., has demonstrated a modulator with 2-volt, peak-to-peak driving voltage that permits the use of inexpensive CMOS drivers.
The modulator achieved speeds faster than 11 GHz with energy consumption of 50 femtojoules per bit. The on chip device loss of 2 dB is among the lowest ever demonstrated, Kotura officials claim.
“This technology breakthrough will enable the development of silicon photonics circuits for optical interconnect,” says Ashok Krishnamoorthy, principal investigator on this project and a distinguished engineer and director at Sun Microsystems.
“This promises to significantly increase the penetration of optical interconnects within computing systems -- starting with the high-end, where interconnect is a bottleneck, and working down into volume applications," Krishnamoorthy says. "This development opens the door for wavelength-multiplexed optical interconnects, which will reduce the complexity impact of connectors and cabling in such systems."
The Kotura modulator was developed as part of the Ultraperformance Nanophotonic Intrachip Communications (UNIC) program of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Arlington, Va., in conjunction with Sun Microsystems.
For more information contact Kotura online at www.kotura.com.