Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Optical interconnects have been recognized as the most promising solution to accelerate data transmission in the artificial intelligence era. Benefiting from their cost-effectiveness, compact dimensions, and wavelength multiplexing capability, silicon microring resonator modulators emerge as a compelling and scalable means for optical modulation. However, the inherent trade-off between bandwidth and modulation efficiency hinders the device performance. Here we demonstrate a dense wavelength division multiplexing microring modulator array on a silicon chip with a full data rate of 1 Tb/s. By harnessing the two individual p-n junctions with an optimized Z-shape doping profile, the inherent trade-off of silicon depletion-mode modulators is greatly mitigated, allowing for higher-speed modulation with energy consumption of sub-ten fJ/bit. This state-of-the-art demonstration shows that all-silicon modulators can practically enable future 200 Gb/s/lane optical interconnects.
Yuan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.