Toward coherent O-band data center interconnects.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Communications
• Integrated Circuits
• Data Center Technology

Background:

• Current coherent data links for data centers face challenges in reducing cost and power consumption.
• These factors are critical drivers for the evolution of intra/inter data center interconnects.
• A transition to O-band silicon photonics is explored as a potential solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address and evaluate the tradeoffs of transitioning from C-band to O-band silicon photonics for coherent data links.
• To assess the performance potential of a monolithic silicon photonic BiCMOS O-band coherent receiver.
• To compare the O-band receiver's performance against a comparable C-band device.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of fundamental components of coherent data links: optical components, fiber links, and transceivers.
• Evaluation of a monolithic silicon photonic BiCMOS O-band coherent receiver.
• Comparative performance analysis between the O-band receiver and an analogous C-band receiver.

Main Results:

• The study evaluates the performance potential of a silicon photonic BiCMOS O-band coherent receiver.
• Key tradeoffs associated with the C-band to O-band transition are analyzed.
• The O-band receiver is compared to its C-band counterpart.

Conclusions:

• The research provides insights into the viability of O-band silicon photonics for future data center interconnects.
• The evaluation of the O-band coherent receiver highlights its potential role in reducing cost and power consumption.
• This work contributes to understanding the path towards more efficient and cost-effective data link technologies.