Circuit-level convergence of electronics and photonics: basic concepts and recent advances.

Area of Science:

• Integrated photonics research
• Post-Moore's Law computing architectures
• Electronics-photonics convergence (EPC)

Background:

• Integrated photonics faces limitations in control and memory, necessitating integration with electronics.
• Maturing photonic fabrication and integration technologies enable a shift towards circuit design in EPC.
• Fundamental concepts from cybernetics, information theory, and physics inform the development of novel integrated circuits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive a conceptual framework for scalable integrated circuits for electronics-photonics convergence.
• To identify key building blocks for integrated circuits in EPC by emulating electronic integrated circuit design principles.
• To review recent advancements in the field of integrated circuits for EPC.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of a conceptual framework based on purposeful behavior (cybernetics), entropy (information theory), and symmetry breaking (physics).
• Identification of fundamental building blocks analogous to those in electronic integrated circuits.
• Review of current research and technological progress in integrated circuits for EPC.

Main Results:

• A conceptual framework comprising regulator, oscillator, and memory elements for scalable integrated circuits.
• Identification of essential building blocks for the practical implementation of EPC.
• A comprehensive overview of recent advances in integrated circuit design for electronics-photonics convergence.

Conclusions:

• Electronics-photonics convergence is an inevitable and critical research direction.
• The proposed framework provides a foundation for designing scalable and functional integrated circuits for EPC.
• Continued advancements in photonic integration and circuit design are paving the way for practical EPC applications.