{"id":1628,"date":"2013-07-25T18:30:30","date_gmt":"2013-07-25T18:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtlsites.mit.edu\/annual_reports\/2013\/?p=1628"},"modified":"2013-08-06T19:47:51","modified_gmt":"2013-08-06T19:47:51","slug":"adiabatic-resonant-microring-modulators-with-integrated-thermal-tuner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtlsites.mit.edu\/annual_reports\/2013\/adiabatic-resonant-microring-modulators-with-integrated-thermal-tuner\/","title":{"rendered":"Adiabatic Resonant Microring Modulators with Integrated Thermal Tuner"},"content":{"rendered":"
Wavelength division multiplexed systems can achieve high bandwidth by utilizing many channels on a single fiber as opposed to current single channel per cable or fiber interconnects. Silicon photonics can readily enable wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) systems through the use of compact, inherently wavelength selective micro-ring\/-disk resonators.\u00a0 Such devices have been demonstrated to have energies as low as 3fJ\/bit at a data rate of 12.5Gb\/s[1<\/a>]<\/sup> and 13fJ\/bit at a data rate of 25Gb\/s[2<\/a>]<\/sup>. However, resonance drifts, induced by process\/wafer variations and dynamic temperature fluctuations, detune the alignment between the modulators and the WDM lasers and need to be compensated. Electro-optic tuning can compensate only for temperature variations of ~\u00b1 2.50<\/sup>C, while processor core activity on chip yields temperature fluctuations on the order of \u00b1100<\/sup>C. Therefore, thermo-optic tuning and control of resonators is required[3<\/a>]<\/sup>.<\/p>\n