Integrating Silicon Photonics

Abstract

This Silicon photonics is the adaptation of silicon integrated circuit technology and manufacturing processes
to the design and manufacture of electro-optical transceivers to be used for short-haul optical data transport.The use of
exotic materials has made optical technology an expensive solution. This prompted research for the construction of fiberoptic components from silicon.Silicon photonics has attained much attention in recent years owing to the maturity of
silicon-based electronics industry and its possibility of monolithic integration of both photonic and electronic devices on
one chip. It develops high-volume low cost optical components using standard CMOS process used today. Intel has
recently come up with first silicon photonics integrated link, with integrated hybrid silicon lasers operating at 50 Gbps
over a single fiber. The milestones in the development of Silicon Photonicsalong with its future prospects are discussed.