Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Moore’s Law for photonic integrated circuits

  • Science Letters
  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We formulate a “Moore’s law” for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their spatial integration density using two methods. One is decomposing the integrated photonics devices of diverse types into equivalent basic elements, which makes a comparison with the generic elements of electronic integrated circuits more meaningful. The other is making a complex component equivalent to a series of basic elements of the same functionality, which is used to calculate the integration density for functional components realized with different structures. The results serve as a benchmark of the evolution of PICs and we can conclude that the density of integration measured in this way roughly increases by a factor of 2 per year. The prospects for a continued increase of spatial integration density are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adar, R., Henry, C.H., Dragone, C., Kistler, R.C., Milbrodt, M.A., 1993. Broad-band array multiplexers made with silica waveguides on silicon. J. Lightwave Technol., 11(2):212–219. [doi:10.1109/50.212529]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bach, H.G., Umbach, A., van Waasen, S., Bertenburg, R.M., 1996. Ultrafast monolithically integrated InP-based photoreceiver. OEIC-design, fabrication, and system application. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2(2):418–422. [doi:10.1109/2944.577404]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbarin, Y., Leijtens, X.J.M., Bente, E.A.J.M., Louzao, C.M., Kooiman, J.R., Smit, M.K., 2004. Extremely small AWG demultiplexer fabricated on InP by using a double-etch process. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 16(11):2478–2480. [doi:10.1109/LPT.2004.835217]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bissessur, H., Gaborit, F., Martin, B., Ripoche, G., 1995. Polarisation-independent phased-array demultiplexer on InP with high fabrication tolerance. Electron. Lett., 31(16):1372–1373. [doi:10.1049/el:19950891]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bissessur, H., Pagnod-Rossiaux, P., Mestric, R., Martin, B., 1996. Extremely small polarization independent phased-array demultiplexers on InP. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 8(4):554–556. [doi:10.1109/68.491224]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozhevolnyi, S.I., Kov, V.S., Devaux, E., Laluet, J.Y., Ebbesen, T.W., 2006. Channel plasmon subwavelength waveguide components including interferometers and ring resonators. Nature, 440(7083):508–511. [doi:10.1038/nature04594]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cremer, C., Erneis, N., Schier, M., Heise, G., Ebbinghaus, G., Stoll, L., 1992. Grating spectrograph integrated with photodiode array in InGaAsP/InGaAs/InP. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 4(1):108–110. [doi:10.1109/68.124893]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, D.X., Liu, L., Wosinski, L., He, S., 2006. Design and fabrication of an ultra-small overlapped AWG demultiplexer based on α-Si nanowire waveguides. Electron. Lett., 42(7):400–402. [doi:10.1049/el:20060157]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Peralta, L.G., Bernussi, A.A., Frisbie, S., Gale, R., Temkin, H., 2003. Reflective arrayed waveguide grating multiplexer. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 15(10):1398–1400. [doi:10.1109/LPT.2003.818223]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • den Besten, J.H., Dessens, M.P., Herben, C.G.P., Leijtens, X.J.M., Groen, F.H., Leys, M.R., Smit, M.K., 2002. Low-loss, compact, and polarization independent PHASAR demultiplexer fabricated by using a double-etch process. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 14(1):62–64. [doi:10.1109/68.974162]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumon, P., Bogaerts, W., van Thourhout, D., Dumon, P., Bogaerts, W., van Thourhout, D., Taillaert, D., Wiaux, V., Beckx, S., Wouters, J., Baets, R., 2004. Wavelength-selective Components in SOI Photonic Wires Fabricated with Deep UV Lithography. 1st IEEE International Conference on Group IV Photonics, p.28–30.

  • Dumon, P., Bogaerts, W., Wiaux, V., Wouters, J., Beckx, S., van Campenhout, J., Taillaert, D., Luyssaert, B., Bienstman, P., van Thourhout, D., Baets, R., 2004. Low-loss SOI photonic wires and ring resonators fabricated with deep UV lithography. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 16(5):1328–1330. [doi:10.1109/LPT.2004.826025]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granestrand, P., Stoltz, B., Thylén, L., Bergvall, K., Doldissen, W., Heidrich, H., Hoffmann, D., 1986. Strictly non-blocking 8×8 integrated optical switch matrix. Electron. Lett., 22:816–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gustavsson, M., Lagerstrom, B., Thylén, L., Janson, M., Lundgren, L., Morner, A.C., Rask, M., Stoltz, B., 1992. Monolithically Integrated 4×4 Laser Amplifier Gate Switch Arrays. Proc. OSA Topical Meeting on Optical Amplifiers and their Applications, paper PD9.

  • Hibino, Y., 2002. Recent advances in high-density and large-scale AWG multi/demultiplexers with higher index-contrast silica-based PLCs. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 8(6):1090–1101. [doi:10.1109/JSTQE.2002.805965]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hida, Y., Hibino, Y., Itoh, M., Sugita, A., Himeno, A., 2000. Fabrication of low-loss and polarisation insensitive 256 channel arrayed-waveguide grating with 25 GHz spacing using 1.5% waveguides. Electron. Lett., 36(9):820–821. [doi:10.1049/el:20000598]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hida, Y., Hibino, Y., Kitoh, T., Inoue, Y., Itoh, M., Shibata, T., Sugita, A., Himeno, A., 2001. 400-channel arrayed-waveguide grating with 25 GHz spacing using 1.5%-Δ waveguides on 6-inch Si wafer. Electron. Lett., 37(9):576–577. [doi:10.1049/el:20010388]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue, K., Takato, N., Toba, H., Kawachi, M., 1988. A four-channel optical waveguide multi/demultiplexer for 5-GHz spaced optical FDM transmission. J. Lightwave Technol., 6(2):339–345. [doi:10.1109/50.4008]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue, Y., Himeno, A., Moriwaki, K., Kawachi, M., 1995. Silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating circuit as optical splitter/router. Electron. Lett., 31(9):726–727. [doi:10.1049/el:19950497]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishii, H., Sanjoh, H., Kohtoku, M., Oku, S., Kadota, Y., 1998. Monolithically Integrated WDM Channel Selectors on InP Substrates. 24th European Conference on Optical Communication, p.329–330.

  • Ishii, M., Takagi, A., Hida, Y., Itoh, M., Kamei, S., Saida, T., Hibino, Y., Sugita, A., Kitagawa, T., 2001. Low-loss fibre-pigtailed 256 channel arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer using cascaded laterally-tapered waveguides. Electron. Lett., 37(23):1401–1402. [doi:10.1049/el:20010963]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janz, S., Balakrishnan, A., Charbonneau, S., Cheben, P., Cloutier, M., Delage, A., Dossou, K., Erickson, L., Gao, M., Krug, P.A., Lamontagne, B., Packirisamy, M., Pearson, M., Xu, D.X., 2004. Planar waveguide echelle gratings in silica-on-silicon. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 16(2):503–505. [doi:10.1109/LPT.2003.823139]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamei, S., Inoue, Y., Mizuno, T., Iemura, K., Shibata, T., Kaneko, A., Takahashi, H., 2005. Extremely low-loss 1.5%-D 32-channel athermal arrayed-waveguide grating multi/demultiplexer. Electron. Lett., 41(9):544–546. [doi:10.1049/el:20050319]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohtoku, M., Sanjoh, H., Oku, S., Kadota, Y., Yoshikuni, Y., 1997. InP-based 64-channel arrayed waveguide grating with 50 GHz channel spacing and up to −20 dB crosstalk. Electron. Lett., 33(21):1786–1787. [doi:10.1049/el:19971194]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luff, B.J., Tsatourian, V., Stopford, P.A.L., Roberts, S.W., Drake, J.P., Fuller, S.A., Asghari, M., 2003. Planar reflection grating wavelength filters in silicon. J. Lightwave Technol., 21(12):3387–3391. [doi:10.1109/JLT.2003.820046]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maru, K., Abe, Y., Ito, M., Ishikawa, H., Himi, S., Uetsuka, H., Mizumoto, T., 2005. 2.5%-silica-based athermal arrayed waveguide grating employing spot-size converters based on segmented core. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 17(11):2325–2327. [doi:10.1109/LPT.2005.857233]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menezo, S., Talneau, A., Delorme, F., Grosmaire, S., 1999. 10-wavelength 200-GHz channel spacing emitter integrating DBR Lasers with a PHASAR on InP for WDM applications. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 11(1):785. [doi:10.1109/68.769707]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, G.E., 1965. Moore’s Law. Electronics, 38:113–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okamoto, K., Moriwaki, K., Suzuki, S., 1995. Fabrication of 64×64 arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer on silicon. Electron. Lett., 31(3):184–186. [doi:10.1049/el:19950133]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okamoto, K., Syuto, K., Takahashi, H., Ohmori, Y., 1996. Fabrication of 128-channel arrayed waveguide grating multiplexer with 25 GHz channel spacing. Electron. Lett., 32(16):1474–1476. [doi:10.1049/el:19961008]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki, K., Ohno, F., Motegi, A., Baba, T., 2005. Arrayed waveguide grating of 70 μ×60 μm size based on Si photonic wire waveguides. Electron. Lett., 41(14):801–802. [doi:10.1049/el:20051541]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smit, M., 2005. Trends in Passive Devices for Photonic Integration. Proceedings of Opto Electronics and Communication Conference (OECC 2005), Seoul, South Korea, p.848–849.

  • Soole, J.B.D., Scherer, A., Leblanc, H.P., Andreadakis, N.C., Bhat, R., Koza, M.A., 1991. Monolithic InP-based grating spectrometer for wavelength-division multiplexed systems at 1.5 pm. Electron. Lett., 27(2):132–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soole, J.B.D., Amersfoort, M.R., LeBlanc, H.P., 1995. Polarisation-independent monolithic eight-channel 2-nm spacing WDM detector based on compact arrayed waveguide demultiplexer. Electron. Lett., 31(15):1289–1291. [doi:10.1049/el:19950881]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Z.J., McGreer, K.A., Broughton, J.N., 1997. Integrated concave grating WDM demultiplexer with 0.144 nm channel spacing. Electron. Lett., 33(13):1140–1142. [doi:10.1049/el:19970795]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Z.J., McGreer, K.A., Broughton, J.N., 1998. Demultiplexer with 120 channels and 0.29-nm channel spacing. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 10(1):90–92. [doi:10.1109/68.651118]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tachikawa, Y., Inoue, Y., Ishii, M., Nozawa, T., 1996. Arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer with loop-back optical paths and its applications. J. Lightwave Technol., 14(6):977–984. [doi:10.1109/50.511597]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, H., Suzuki, S., Kato, K., Nishi, I., 1990. Arrayed-waveguide grating for wavelength division multi/demultiplexer with nanometre resolution. Electron. Lett., 26(2):87–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, H., Suzuki, S., Nishi, I., 1994. Wavelength multiplexer based on SiO2-Ta2O5 arrayed-waveguide grating. J. Lightwave Technol., 12(6):989–995. [doi:10.1109/50.296189]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, H., Oda, K., Toba, H., Inoue, Y., 1995. Transmission characteristics of arrayed waveguide N×N wavelength multiplexer. J. Lightwave Technol., 13(3):447–455. [doi:10.1109/50.372441]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takato, N., Kominato, T., Sugita, A., Jinguji, K., Toba, H., Kawachi, M., 1990. Silica-based integrated optic mach-zehnder multi/demultiplexer family with channel spacing of 0.01∼250 nm. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, 8(6):1120–1127. [doi:10.1109/49.57816]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trinh, P.D., Yegnanarayanan, S., Coppinger, F., Jalali, B., 1997. Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) phased-array wavelength multi/demultiplexer with extremely low-polarization sensitivity. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 9(7):940–942. [doi:10.1109/68.593358]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vellekoop, R., Smit, M.K., 1991. Four-channel integrated-optic wavelength demultiplexer with weak polarization dependence. J. Lightwave Technol., 9(3):310–314. [doi:10.1109/50.70004]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wisely, D.R., 1991. 32 channel WDM multiplexer with 1 nm channel spacing and 0.7 nm bandwidth. Electron. Lett., 27(6):520–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zirngibl, M., Dragone, C., Joyner, C.H., 1992. Demonstration of a 15×15 arrayed waveguide multiplexer on InP. IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., 4(11):1250–1253. [doi:10.1109/68.166958]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zirngibl, M., Joyner, C.H., Stulz, L.W., Gaiffe, T., Dragone, C., 1993. Polarisation independent 8×8 waveguide grating multiplexer on InP. Electron. Lett., 29(2):201–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Research Center of Photonics of KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden) & Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Thylén L., He Sailing, Wosinski L. & Dai Daoxin

  2. Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Electrum 229, S-164 40, Kista, Sweden

    Thylén L. & Wosinski L.

  3. Centre for Optical and Electromagnetic Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    He Sailing & Dai Daoxin

Authors
  1. Thylén L.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. He Sailing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wosinski L.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dai Daoxin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thylén, L., He, S., Wosinski, L. et al. The Moore’s Law for photonic integrated circuits. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. A 7, 1961–1967 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2006.A1961

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2006.A1961

Key words

CLC number

Search

Navigation