WDM 200Gb/s Optical Transceiver Chip Modules with Quadrature Modulation and RF Transmission Capabilities based on WDM Electronic-Photonic Integration Platform

There have been significant interests from NASA in integrated optical transceiver chips for space optical communications, in particular space-qualifiable 1550nm laser transmitter and receiver with optoelectronic laser, modulator, and detector, that are capable of data rates from 1Gb/sec to 200Gb/sec. The power efficiency shall be better than 10W per Gb/sec and weight less than 100g per Gb/sec. In addition, hybrid RF-optical technologies are sought, and technology based on integrated photonic circuit solution is strongly desired.To address the abovementioned interests, our proposed works will focus on realizing 100-200Gb/sec high-data-rate Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed (WDM) photonic transceiver module that will be able to meet the above NASA requirements, based on a few key technologies we have developed including: (a) WDM Laser Transmitter with Concurrent Wavelength Locking Capability; (b) Ultra-Compact Wavelength Mux/DeMux; (c) Integrated Narrow Linewidth Laser; (d) Integrated 20-40Gb/sec Modulator with low voltage of ~1.5V; (e) Ruggedized Wide-Temperature-Range Chip Packaging Module with large operating temperature range of -40oC to 100oC.

The main NASA application area is space qualifiable 1550 nm laser transmitter and receiver for data rates from 1 gigabits/s to >200 gigabits/s with power efficiencies better than 10W per gigabit/s and mass efficiencies better than 100 g per gigabit/s. Technologies for efficient waveform modulation, detection, and synchronization using Integrated photonic circuit solutions are strongly desired. Also of potential application interests are hybrid RF-optical transmissions.

For Non NASA Commercial Applications, the main market areas are computer Interconnect and Optical Network. Include Optical Transceiver Modules (OTMs) and “Active Optical Cables” (AOCs), used widely in data centers and networks. AOC market is $500Mil/year and the OTM is $4.4Bil/year currently. Other applications include coherent communications for network, and chip-to-chip optical interconnects with estimated market size of $300Mil/year.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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