Silicon photonic devices for ultra-high-capacity coherent optical transmissions

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Over the past decades, we have witnessed an incredible increase in the Internet traffic driven by millions of new users and numerous emerging online applications. Almost 90% of the data in the world today was created in the last two years. This tremendous growth has spurred a rapid evolution of optical communication technology for higher data transmission capacity. Large-scale integrated circuits are a must-have technology for next-generation optical communications systems. The aim of this project is to develop an integrated solution for ultra-high-capacity optical transmissions, using a disruptive technology, namely, silicon photonics that applies the standard semiconductor process used for microprocessors. To achieve this goal, we will examine both various strategies for broadband optical signal generation and explore advanced signal processing in both digital and optical domains to push the system performance.The proposed research will drastically push the boundaries of silicon photonics. To date, high-capacity optical transport networks, which apply the most advanced transmission techniques with stringent requirements on performance, are still dominated by discrete optical devices that will soon become a bottleneck as the system complexity scales up. Our research will address this issue by providing innovative integrated photonic solutions that are suitable for mass production. The outcomes of this project will place Canadian industry in an advanced position in the coming global competition. This proposed project falls within the strategic axis of UL's Research and Development Plan: Model intelligent communities, invent their technologies and logistics. Through this project, we will reinforce the UL's leadership in the domain of optics-photonics and will contribute to the training of the next generation of Canadian innovators in this strategic domain.