6 March 2012

GigOptix’s TFPS-based 100G MZM integrated with DFB laser in small-form-factor TOSA

GigOptix Inc of San Jose, CA, USA says that its 100Gbps Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM), which is based on its Thin Film Polymer on Silicon (TFPS) technology, has been integrated with a 1550nm distributed feedback (DFB) laser in a small-form-factor transmit optical sub-assembly (TOSA).

The device was implemented as part of POLYSYS, a European Union (EU)-funded R&D program involving a consortium of optical component suppliers and European research institutions - including the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI, a research center for communication systems, digital media and services) - developing photonic and electrical components to enable 400Gbps chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack data-center solutions.

POLYSYS’ goal is to realize a monolithically integrated laser and modulator TOSA solution that will use GigOptix’s TFPS electro-optical polymer technology to integrate four lanes of 100Gbps on-off-keying (OOK) lanes to implement the 400Gbps link. The 100G TOSA is a first stage in this project.

GigOptix says that, since its TFPS optical technology is fully compatible with CMOS backend processes and is used to realize modulator structures and optical waveguides for optical signal routing, it can be monolithically integrated with silicon CMOS devices to enable high-speed optical communication devices. It also enables ultra-low power consumption and ease of integration in small-form-factor modules.

“GigOptix’s TFPS is a highly flexible and scalable optical technology,” says Eric Miller, general manager of GigOptix Bothell. “It is capable not only of realizing high-performance 40Gbps DPSK MZMs for long-haul optical links, such as our LX8401 solution, but also 100G and 400G data-center devices, as has been demonstrated by the POLYSYS consortium,” he adds. “We look forward to bringing integrated CMOS/TFPS optical devices to market in the near future.”

GigOptix is exhibiting its 100Gbps products together with a live demonstration of its TFPS-based 40Gbps DQPSK MZM in booth #1233 at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC 2012) in Los Angeles (6-8 March).

Tags: GigOptix Mach-Zehnder modulator DFB laser TOSA

Visit: www.gigoptix.com

Visit: www.ict-polysys.eu