Directly modulated lasers at higher speeds 

Consistent laser execution is critical to photonics success. The optoelectronics industry has managed to incorporate directly modulated lasers (DMLs) to deliver 100G and 200G performance. Increasing that performance to 400G and beyond has been challenging but also deeply desired.

The reason the industry wants to get DMLs to perform at higher speeds is largely about compatibility with existing architectures. If you can have a base product, like an optical engine, that allows customers to swap out lasers for their desired speed, it reduces the cost and assembly time.

Based on our internal findings, savings of up to 40% can be realized through the hybrid integration of optics and electronics on a single chip for 100G and 200G transceiver devices. Stable, scalable DML performance at 400G would suggest the same savings and assembly efficiency could happen at 800G and in co-packaged optics, a technology that can propel photonics innovation to the next level.

Breakthroughs that use high-performance waveguides to move the lasers through narrow channels are forecast to hit volume manufacturing in 2022. The “flip-chip” assembly of those DMLs leads to fully integrated optical engines that are significantly smaller than existing solutions. Once these 100G and 200G products reach the market, device manufacturers and data center customers will see immediate improvements in the performance of their commercial applications. A 400G DML-enabled product, which could be introduced to the industry this year, would act like a slingshot and propel innovation in a number of sectors.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/02/28/four-trends-in-photonics-for-2022-more-investment-more-innovation/?sh=7f59e7cb676d