The on-chip optical circuit will create a new revolution in communication and computers

In a research work that could lead to the creation of completely new devices, systems and applications on microcomputers, researchers at the Massachusset Institute of Technology (MIT), the United States did for making chips with optical circuits on it is more feasible.

In the first edition of the Nature Photonics magazine released in January 2007, the team announced a completely new method for integrating optical circuits on chips. Adding power and speed of light waves can help the system to function better in an extraordinary way.

According to Erich P. Ippen, professor of electronics and physics, the MIT invention will allow optical integration devices to be mass-produced for the first time ever. Moreover, depending on the development of communication technology, this new device may be popular in the next five years. '

This new technology will allow on-chip supercomputers to handle high-speed signals, remote and optical testing, and others.

Mr. Franz X. Kaertner, professor of electronics and computer science, commented that this "new breakthrough will solve the problem of wiring in chips and computer structures today."

MIT optical chip model.
(Photo of Tymon Barwicz, MIT)

In addition to Ippen and Kaerther, MIT's research team includes Dr. Tymon Barwicz, Dr. Michael Watts, graduate student Milos Popovic and Peter Rakich, ultimately Henry I. Smith, professor of electronics and co-director of the Department. MIT's nanostructured experiment.

Control light waves.

Micro-light quantum technology aims to control the movement of light. By using silicon and silicon oxide to produce light refraction, photons can be trapped in microscopic mirrors to give them unique properties.

The biggest obstacle is that micro optical devices are very sensitive to the polarization of light.

Light waves moving in optical fibers are easily polarized politically or vertically, but micro-optical circuits do not work well with such random input data. This means that devices used in sub-optical systems and optical communication networks cannot be connected to the outside world without being carefully assembled and carefully from.

Like the polarization of sunglasses that use vertical polarizing devices to prevent light rays having a horizontal direction reflected from flat surfaces like road surfaces and water surfaces, MIT's method is used to integrate Optical optics involve splitting two directions of polarized light waves.

Separate the difference

This innovative solution by MIT's team involves splitting light emitted from an optical fiber into two branches, a branch consisting of polarized light rays and a branch containing light rays being Vertical polarization on an integrated chip.

By concentrating these two branches perpendicular to each other, the researchers turned the polarity of one of the two branches. The light rays at both branches are now in the same direction, moving through the system of polarization sensitive structures and passing through the other end of the chip where these two rays are reunited together. .

Ippen remarked: 'These results show a breakthrough in the processing and conversion of input light signals that are polarized unordered on integrated optical circuits'. This new initiative also means that optical components can be integrated into semiconductor chips and can be mass produced, minimizing costs and increasing the efficiency of chips.

The advantage in combining optics with silicon technology is that silicon fabrication technology has been developed at a high level and promises precise manufacturing processes and can reproduce high density integrated circuits. .

In addition to creating a breakthrough in light-polarization technology, the MIT-made chip also contains components that first appeared that were capable of meeting the technical requirements of the communications industry.

Smith said: 'Our results show the importance of studying the theory of nanomaterials death and the role of researchers in creating new steps for this industry to develop. development. The creation of these devices can only be achieved thanks to MIT's unmatched nanomaterial fabrication devices, which makes them very accurate. "

The work was funded by Pirelli Laboratories in Milan, Italy and used MIT's nanostructured lab and electron beam scanning device lab (both of which are located in a research lab). electronics of MIT).

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