Towards a revolution in optical communications

硅光子学目前正在改变数据通信，并开始影响更广泛的应用。然而，硅光子学现在已经成熟，目前商用的收发器主要利用25Gb/s的调制器。下一代系统的实验室演示要么使用25Gb/s设备的多个并行通道，要么使用更复杂的调制技术来实现更高的聚合数据速率。即使是最快的研究调制器，当与驱动程序集成时，也可以运行高达约50Gb/s的OOK（或相应的PAM4调制以达到100Gb/s的净总速度）。世界各地的研究人员都在努力改进这种调制器，以从这些设备中获得最后几个百分点的性能改进，或者转向其他材料的集成，这增加了制造的复杂性和成本，并有可能降低产量。在这项工作中，我们发明了一种方法来改善调制器/驱动器组合，不是几个百分点，而是100%，这将导致数据速率，功耗和实现成本的显着改善。我们将演示100Gb/s OOK和200Gb/s PAM4，以及一种新型的光时分复用（OTDM）系统。实际上，我们已经找到了一种将传统上在电子领域完成的函数转移到光学领域的方法，节省了成本和能源，并显著提高了性能。该提案提供了拟议工作的详细模拟，作为新技术可行性的预备示范。这包括以前在南安普顿制造的调制器的典型特性，现在将以不同的模式运行。因此，我们相信，成功的机会是非常高的。电子驱动器将在南安普顿设计，并分包给台积电在台湾制造。所有光学器件都将在南安普顿使用名为CORNERSTONE的硅光子代工服务制造。这种新方法已经获得了两项专利申请，我们怀疑随着研究的进展，其他人也会效仿。调查人员和研究人员都是发明家，所以这个团队是开展这项工作的理想场所。

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.