Abstract
The trend of data center transceivers is to increase bandwidth while simultaneously decreasing their size, power consumption, and cost. While data center links have previously relied on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) or in-plane lasers using coarse wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to encode data, recently, dense WDM (DWDM) has moved to the forefront for next-generation links. Several approaches exist as light sources for DWDM links; DFB arrays, nonlinear microcombs, and semiconductor mode-locked lasers (MLLs). This paper focuses on quantum dot MLLs (QDMLLs), which currently offer the best efficiency, simplicity, and size. The efficiency of optical combs generated by QDMLLs is analyzed in depth in this study.
Highlights
Cloud-based computing continues to fuel the demand for more internet protocol traffic, thrusting hyperscale data centers into the “Zeta-byte era” [1]
To reduce power spent on input–output (IO) and to eliminate the IO bottleneck at the front panel of server rack units [2], data center links will see photonics move into electronics packages in the near future [3,4]
micro-ring modulators (MRM) benefit from a compact footprint and are resonant structures, allowing them to modulate a single wavelength in a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) signal, eliminating optical multiplexers and demultiplexers (MUX/DEMUX) [7]
Summary
Cloud-based computing continues to fuel the demand for more internet protocol traffic, thrusting hyperscale data centers into the “Zeta-byte era” [1]. To reduce power spent on input–output (IO) and to eliminate the IO bottleneck at the front panel of server rack units [2], data center links will see photonics move into electronics packages in the near future [3,4]. MRMs benefit from a compact footprint and are resonant structures, allowing them to modulate a single wavelength in a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) signal, eliminating optical multiplexers and demultiplexers (MUX/DEMUX) [7]. This capability has dramatically increased the need for a monolithic light source that can deliver all DWDM channels. The three approaches typically considered to meet this need are distributed feedback laser (DFB) arrays, nonlinear optical frequency combs (NOFC), and semiconductor mode-locked lasers(MLLs) [8]
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