Elements of a hybrid interconnection theory

We present a textbooklike treatment of hybrid systems employing both optical and electrical interconnections. We investigate how these two different interconnection media can be used in conjunction to realize a system not possible with any alone. More specifically, we determine the optimal mix of optical and normally conducting interconnections maximizing a given figure-of-merit function. We find that optical interconnections have relatively little to offer if the optical paths are constrained to lie on a plane (such as in an integrated optics system). However, if optical paths are permitted to leave the plane, they may enable considerable increase in performance. In any event the prize in terms of performance is accompanied by a penalty in terms of system power and/or size.