A 40 Gbps Optical Transceiver for Particle Physics Experiments

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high-speed quad-channel optical transceiver module designed for particle physics experiments, demonstrating its design, testing, and performance metrics at data rates up to 10 Gbps per channel.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel 40 Gbps optical transceiver module with integrated VCSEL arrays and photodiodes, optimized for particle physics applications, with detailed test results.

Findings

Achieves 10 Gbps per channel with low power consumption

Sensitivity of -17 dBm at 2.56 Gbps and -8 dBm at 10 Gbps

Compact size suitable for experimental setups

Abstract

We present the design and the test results of a quad-channel optical transceiver module (QTRx) possibly for future particle physics experiments. The transmitters of QTRx, each at 10 Gbps, are based on a Quad-channel VCSEL Diode array Driver (QLDD) and 1 x 4 VCSEL array. The receivers of QTRx, with data rates of 2.56 Gbps or 10 Gbps per channel, are based on a Quad-channel Trans-Impedance and limiting Amplifier (QTIA) and 1 x 4 photodiode array of GaAs or InGaAs. QTRx is 20 mm x 10 mm x 5 mm and couples to an MT fiber connector. Test results indicate that QTRx achieves the design goals with a power consumption of 124 mW per transmitter channel at 10 Gbps and 120 mW at 2.56 Gbps for the receiver channel with an on-chip charge pump. The sensitivities of QTIA are -17 dBm at 2.56 Gbps and -8 dBm at 10 Gbps, respectively. Further improvements with a gold-finger interface and a more compact optical lens are being designed.