Caltech breakthrough brings fiber-optic performance to silicon chips
Caltech researchers have developed a new method to print germano-silicate glass waveguides directly onto silicon wafers, achieving signal loss levels comparable to optical fiber. By using a 'reflow' process to achieve atomic-level smoothness, the team created circuits that outperform existing silicon nitride technology by a factor of 20 at visible wavelengths.
Caltech researchers have found a way to move light across silicon wafers with exceptionally little signal loss, reaching levels at visible wavelengths that approach those of optical fiber. The advance could support a new generation of highly coherent and energy-efficient photonic integrated circuits (PICs), with potential uses ranging from optical clocks and gyroscopes to AI data center communications and quantum computing.
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