Quad lasers for 800Gbit/s data centre links
Vector Photonics in Glasgow has successfully produced 1300nm PCSELs (Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers) for 800Gbit/s datacom applications.
The PCSEL arrays emit four, concurrent, 1300nm wavelengths, with a SMSR (Side-Mode-Suppression Ratio) measurement of around 35dB.
The company is celebrating its second anniversary this week having spun out from the University of Glasgow. The initial focus is on data centre links, but there are also markets in the Internet of Things (IoT) and the 5G roll-out. PCSELs enable high-power and high-speed in a single device, so 3-D metal and plastic printing have also become target markets.
“The 1300nm compound semiconductor lasers enable new levels of PCSEL commercialisation for datacoms applications,” said Dr Richard Taylor, CTO and co-founder of Vector Photonics. “Unlike incumbent DFB [Distributed Feedback] and EEL [edge emitting laser] data centre laser technologies, PCSELs deliver both the high speed and high power required, in the same device. PCSELs are surface emitting, with light coming from the top of the laser not the side, which vastly reduces packaging costs. We now have four, 1300nm wavelengths emitting from a monolithic PCSEL array, rather than four separate chips, simplifying post-production assembly and significantly reducing packaging costs.”
“Vector Photonics was formed as a limited company on 13th March 2020. This was the same week that the UK went into lock-down and no one was quite sure what the future would hold. Despite this uncertainty, the company secured private investment worth £1.7 million and innovation grants worth a further £2.6 million,” said Neil Martin, CEO of Vector Photonics.
“We have assembled a world class technical and commercial team, including the inventors of PCSEL technology itself, and we have an understanding the entire photonics supply chain, with direct access to customers around the world,” he said.
Using a fabless compound semiconductor approach is key, says the company.
“Fabless production enables us to bring new, all-semiconductor PCSELs to market quickly,” said Euan Livingston, Sales and Marketing Director at Vector Photonics. “It caters for volume increases; reduces our risk of supply chain bottlenecks; and future proofs us against consolidation, where large companies are acquiring fabs to corner semiconductor supply.
“To be effective with a fabless strategy, Vector Photonics has invested in skilled and experienced design and development engineers, with extensive production experience,” he said. “Unlike most other fab-lite or fabless photonics companies, this means all Vector Photonics’ design and production ‘know-how’ is kept within the business. The engineers then design wafers and PCSELs for multiple, possible supply routes – a challenge they enjoy which also builds in the resilience we need.”
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