Optical Interconnects

As we reach the data transmission limits of copper wire and communications experts seek to bring the speed of long-haul fiber optics networks closer to access points, optical interconnects promise to provide efficient, high-speed data transmission for the next generation of networks and systems. They offer higher bit-rates, virtually no crosstalk, lower demands on power requirements and thermal management, and the possibility of two-dimensional channel arrays for chip-to-chip communication. The Handbook of Optical Interconnects introduces the systems and devices that will bring the speed and quality of optical transmission closer to the circuit board. Contributed by active experts, most from leading technology companies in the US and Japan, this outstanding handbook details various low-cost and small-size configurations, illustrates the discussion with more than 300 figures, and offers a look at the applications and future of this exciting and rapidly growing field. The book includes a detailed introduction to vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs); the use of optical interconnects in metropolitan, local-area, and access networks through FTTP (FTTH); and Jisso technologies, which are critical for developing low-cost, small-size modules. Driving down the size and cost of optical interconnects is vital for integrating these technologies into the network and onto microprocessors, and the Handbook of Optical Interconnects provides the knowledge and tools necessary to accomplish these goals.

Optical Interconnects in Future Data Center Networks covers optical networks and how they can be used to provide high bandwidth, energy efficient interconnects for future data centers with increased communication bandwidth requirements. This contributed volume presents an integrated view of the future requirements of the data centers and serves as a reference work for some of the most advanced solutions that have been proposed by major universities and companies. Collecting the most recent and innovative optical interconnects for data center networks that have been presented in the research community by universities and industries, this book is a valuable reference to researchers, students, professors and engineers interested in the domain of high performance interconnects and data center networks. Additionally, Optical Interconnects in Future Data Center Networks provides invaluable insights into the benefits and advantages of optical interconnects and how they can be a promising alternative for future data center networks.

Optical Interconnects provides a fascinating picture of the state of the art in optical interconnects and a perspective on what can be expected in the near future. It is composed of selected reviews authored by world leaders in the field, and these reviews are written from either an academic or industrial viewpoint. An in-depth discussion of the path towards fully-integrated optical interconnects in microelectronics is presented. This book will be useful not only to physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers but also to graduate students who are interested in the fields of microelectronics and optoelectronics.

This book describes fully embedded board level optical interconnect in detail including the fabrication of the thin-film VCSEL array, its characterization, thermal management, the fabrication of optical interconnection layer, and the integration of devices on a flexible waveguide film. All the optical components are buried within electrical PCB layers in a fully embedded board level optical interconnect. Therefore, we can save foot prints on the top real estate of the PCB and relieve packaging difficulty reduced by separating fabrication processes. To realize fully embedded board level optical interconnects, many stumbling blocks need to be addressed such as thin-film transmitter and detector, thermal management, process compatibility, reliability, cost effective fabrication process, and easy integration. The material presented eventually will relieve such concerns and make the integration of optical interconnection highly feasible. The hybrid integration of the optical interconnection layer and electrical layers is ongoing.

Current data centre networks, based on electronic packet switches, are experiencing an exponential increase in network traffic due to developments such as cloud computing. Optical interconnects have emerged as a promising alternative offering high throughput and reduced power consumption. Optical Interconnects for Data Centers reviews key developments in the use of optical interconnects in data centres and the current state of the art in transforming this technology into a reality. The book discusses developments in optical materials and components (such as single and multi-mode waveguides), circuit boards and ways the technology can be deployed in data centres. Optical Interconnects for Data Centers is a key reference text for electronics designers, optical engineers, communications engineers and R&D managers working in the communications and electronics industries as well as postgraduate researchers. Summarizes the state-of-the-art in this emerging field Presents a comprehensive review of all the key aspects of deploying optical interconnects in data centers, from materials and components, to circuit boards and methods for integration Contains contributions that are drawn from leading international experts on the topic

As we reach the data transmission limits of copper wire and communications experts seek to bring the speed of long-haul fiber optics networks closer to access points, optical interconnects promise to provide efficient, high-speed data transmission for the next generation of networks and systems. They offer higher bit-rates, virtually no crosstalk, lower demands on power requirements and thermal management, and the possibility of two-dimensional channel arrays for chip-to-chip communication. The Handbook of Optical Interconnects introduces the systems and devices that will bring the speed and quality of optical transmission closer to the circuit board. Contributed by active experts, most from leading technology companies in the US and Japan, this outstanding handbook details various low-cost and small-size configurations, illustrates the discussion with more than 300 figures, and offers a look at the applications and future of this exciting and rapidly growing field. The book includes a detailed introduction to vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs); the use of optical interconnects in metropolitan, local-area, and access networks through FTTP (FTTH); and Jisso technologies, which are critical for developing low-cost, small-size modules. Driving down the size and cost of optical interconnects is vital for integrating these technologies into the network and onto microprocessors, and the Handbook of Optical Interconnects provides the knowledge and tools necessary to accomplish these goals.

This volume is a monograph on parallel optical interconnects. It presents not only the state of-the-art in this domain but also the necessary physical and chemical background. It also provides a discussion of the potential for future devices. Both experts and newcomers to the area will appreciate the authors' proficiency in providing the complete picture of this rapidly growing field. Optical interconnects are already established in telecommunications and should eventually find their way being applied to chip and even gate level connections in integrated systems. The inspiring environment of the Basic Research Working Group on Optical Information Technology WOIT (3199), together with the excellent and complementary skills of its participants, make this contribution highly worthwhile. G. Metakides Table of contents 1 Perspectives for parallel optical interconnects: introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l Pierre Chavel and Philippe lAlanne 1. 1 Optical Interconnects and ESPRIT BRA WOIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. 2 What are optical interconnects? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1. 3 Optical interconnects: how ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1. 3. 1 Passive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1. 3. 2 Active devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1. 3. 3 Schemes for parallel optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. 3. 4 Limits of optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. 4 Optical interconnects: why ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Acknowledgetnents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 First Section: Components Part 1. 1 Passive interconnect components 2 Free space interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Philippe Lalanne and Pierre ChaveZ 2. 1 Introduction: 3D optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2. 2 Optical free space channels and their implementations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. 2. 1 Diffraction and degrees of freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. 2. 2 Two Qasic interconnect setups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currently, light waves are ready to come into boxes of computers in high-performance computing systems like data centers and super computers to realize intra-box optical interconnects. For inter-box optical interconnects, light waves have successfully been introduced by OE modules, in which discrete bulk-chip OE/electronic devices are assembled using the flip-chip-bonding-based packaging technology. OE modules, however, are not applicable to intra-box optical interconnects, because intra-box interconnects involve “short line distances of the cm–mm order” and “large line counts of hundreds-thousands.” This causes optics excess, namely, excess components, materials, spaces, fabrication efforts for packaging, and design efforts. The optics excess raises sizes and costs of intra-box optical interconnects enormously when they are built using conventional OE modules. This book proposes the concept of self-organized 3D integrated optical interconnects and the strategy to reduce optics excess in intra-box optical interconnects.