MODetector (MOD): A Dual-Functional Optical Modulator-Detector for On-Chip Communication

Physical challenges at the device and interconnect level limit both network and computing energy efficiency. While photonics is being considered to address interconnect bottlenecks, optical routing is still limited by electronic circuitry, requiring substantial overhead for optical-electrical-optica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2017-10
Main Authors: Sun, Shuai, Zhang, Ruoyu, Peng, Jiaxin, Narayana, Vikram, Dalir, Hamed, El-Ghazawi, Tarek, Sorger, Volker J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Broadband
Circuits
Computing time
Energy conversion efficiency
Insertion loss
Light modulation
Photonics
Response time
System on chip
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Summary:Physical challenges at the device and interconnect level limit both network and computing energy efficiency. While photonics is being considered to address interconnect bottlenecks, optical routing is still limited by electronic circuitry, requiring substantial overhead for optical-electrical-optical conversion. Here we show a novel design of an integrated broadband photonic-plasmonic hybrid device termed MODetector featuring dual light modulation and detection function to act as an optical transceiver in the photonic network-on-chip. With over 10 dB extinction ratio and 0.8 dB insertion loss at the modulation state, this MODetector provides 0.7 W/A responsivity in the detection state with 36 ps response time. This multi-functional device: (i) eliminates OEO conversion, (ii) reduces optical losses from photodetectors when not needed, and (iii) enables cognitive routing strategies for network-on-chips.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1712.01364