Large-scale photonic integrated circuits

TLDR

The transmitter is built by integrating more than 50 discrete functions onto a single monolithic InP chip, and the system’s performance is evaluated over a representative DWDM long‑haul link for next‑generation optical transport. The large‑scale PICs achieve 100‑Gb/s DWDM operation, simultaneously transmitting and receiving ten 10‑Gb/s wavelengths, and substantially reduce cost, packaging complexity, size, fiber coupling, and power consumption.

Abstract

100-Gb/s dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) transmitter and receiver photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are demonstrated. The transmitter is realized through the integration of over 50 discrete functions onto a single monolithic InP chip. The resultant DWDM PICs are capable of simultaneously transmitting and receiving ten wavelengths at 10 Gb/s on a DWDM wavelength grid. Optical system performance results across a representative DWDM long-haul link are presented for a next-generation optical transport system using these large-scale PICs. The large-scale PIC enables significant reductions in cost, packaging complexity, size, fiber coupling, and power consumption.