Abstract

High performance device and 1C technology research is vigorously being pursued at locations around the world, inexorably driven by the needs of high bit rate optical communications. As speeds mount, previous frontiers at 1-2 Gbit/s are no longer considered particularly fast; indeed most of the components necessary for a 5-6-Gbit/s optical system are already demonstrated in integrated form. Moreover, recent advances lead to expectations that additional speed improvements of factors of 4 or more can someday be achieved. This paper reviews circuit and device technologies already employed and previews as well technologies likely to play essential roles in future 20-30-Gbit/s supersystems.

© 1989 Optical Society of America