Jitter Analysis of Optical Clock Distribution Networks in Silicon Photonics

The lower limit of timing jitter due to optical and thermal noise is derived for the transmission of pulses as a clock signal. Clock distribution networks are analyzed in silicon photonics in providing pulse trains to electronic circuits. Two photon absorption and free carrier effects in silicon waveguides define maximum output power of the clock distribution network in dependence on pulsewidth and pulse energy. Simulations show that multiple electronic circuits on a silicon chip can be synchronized by optical pulses with femtosecond precision.