Aloe Semiconductor has made a significant breakthrough in optical communications with its latest silicon-photonic modulator, capable of 160-Gbaud PAM4 (320-Gb/s) transmission. This advancement is set to be showcased at the Optical Fiber Communication conference, highlighting a major step forward in the field of high-speed data transmission. The company's innovative design allows silicon photonics to reach unprecedented bit rates without the need for additional non-CMOS materials, preserving silicon's inherent advantages such as integration capability and rapid market deployment.
Christopher Doerr, CEO of Aloe Semiconductor, emphasized the importance of this development, noting that the novel Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) design enhances bandwidth without sacrificing performance. Utilizing only conventional silicon processing, this modulator could lead to significant power and cost savings for optical communication infrastructure. The demonstration of this technology includes a high-bandwidth open-collector driver from MACOM, with both the driver and modulator flip-chipped on a high-density substrate. Electrical input signals were generated using a Keysight AWG 8199B, and optical signals were received by a Keysight 1032A.
This technological leap is particularly relevant for optical input/output (OIO) and co-packaged optics (CPO) applications, where advanced silicon packaging is crucial. By sticking to pure silicon technology, Aloe Semiconductor is poised to expedite the time-to-market for next-generation communication solutions. The demonstration is a key milestone in scaling network capabilities from 212G to 425G and 850G, utilizing innovative dual-polarization technology. As the demand for higher speeds and more efficient data transmission grows, Aloe Semiconductor's approach presents a viable solution for the future of optical communication infrastructure.
