Optical Interconnects
Optical interconnects represent a transformative technology that addresses the fundamental limitations of electrical signaling at high data rates and over longer distances. As electronic systems push beyond multi-gigabit speeds, electrical interconnects face increasingly severe challenges from signal attenuation, dispersion, electromagnetic interference, and power consumption. Optical interconnects overcome many of these limitations by using photons rather than electrons to carry information, enabling dramatically higher bandwidths, longer reach, lower latency, and improved power efficiency.
The integration of optical technologies into electronic systems requires sophisticated understanding of both optical and electrical domains. From the physics of light generation and detection to the electronic circuits that drive lasers and process photodetector outputs, optical interconnects bridge two distinct physical regimes. This intersection creates unique design challenges in modulation formats, clock recovery, power management, and thermal design, while offering compelling advantages for data center networking, high-performance computing, and next-generation communication systems.