Silicon Photonics: The Inside Story

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in silicon photonics, highlighting its potential to revolutionize optical communications and computing by leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure and addressing key scientific and technological challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent 'game changing' developments and discusses promising applications beyond data communication, including new scientific insights.

Findings

Progress in silicon photonics enabling optical functionalities on silicon

Identification of key challenges and opportunities in the field

Observation of extreme-value statistical behavior in silicon photonics

Abstract

The electronic chip industry embodies the height of technological sophistication and economics of scale. Fabricating inexpensive photonic components by leveraging this mighty manufacturing infrastructure has fueled intense interest in silicon photonics. If it can be done economically and in an energy efficient manner, empowering silicon with optical functionality will bring optical communications to the realm of computers where limitations of metallic interconnects are threatening the industry's future. The field is making stunning progress and stands to have a bright future, as long as the community recognizes the real challenges, and maintains an open mind with respect to its applications. This talk will review recent 'game changing' developments and discuss promising applications beyond data communication. It will conclude with recent observation of extreme-value statistical behavior in silicon photonics, a powerful example of how scientific discoveries can unexpectedly emerge in the course of technology development.