MIT Scientists Reach Fiber-Optic Breakthrough

kcurtis writes "The AP (via boston.com) has a story about how MIT scientists have detailed a breakthrough in optics that could lead to cheaper, more efficient optical communications. From the story: 'Like polarizing sunglasses that block light waves oriented in different directions, the MIT researchers created a clever device that splits the light beams as they pass through a circuit. The device then rotates one of the polarized beams, before both beams are rejoined on their way out of the circuit, retaining the signals' strength. But it's not just that device that the researchers are touting. They're also trumpeting the innovative method they devised to integrate the optical circuitry with electronic circuitry on the same silicon chip.'"

Comments

Integrating photonics and electronics not that new

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It seems what the MIT scientists have created is a purely optical equalizer in a convention CMOS process. This would probably be used at the receiving end of a single mode fiber link. Most of the equalization done today is done electronically using fancy optical receivers (expensive but very robust).

The article is light on details but the idea of integrating photonics and electronics in a conventional CMOS process isn't a new idea. Maybe the way they did the integration is a breakthrough. A company called Luxtera demonstrated (with products) integrated photonic and electronic transmitters way back in 2005. Their press release from March 2005 http://www.luxtera.com/news_press_2005_0328.htm reveals that they created an optical modulator (a transmitter) in Freescale's CMOS process. The optical modulator they created is also based on the same idea of splitting light and combining it to create on/off pulses at extremely high speeds.

If you want to read more about their technology and why integrating photonics with electronics is important visit: http://www.luxtera.com/technology_faq.htm