Progress in computing architectures is approaching a paradigm shift: traditional computing based on digital complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology is nearing physical limits in terms of miniaturization, speed, and, especially, power consumption. Consequently, alternative approaches are under investigation. One of the most promising is based on a “brain-like” or neuromorphic computation scheme. Another approach is quantum computing using photons. Both of these approaches can be realized using silicon photonics, and at the heart of both technologies is an efficient, ultra-low power broad band optical modulator. As silicon modulators suffer from relatively high power consumption, materials other than silicon itself have to be considered for the modulator. In this Perspective, we present our view on such materials. We focus on oxides showing a strong linear electro-optic effect that can also be integrated with Si, thus capitalizing on new materials to enable the devices and circuit architectures that exploit shifting computational machine learning paradigms, while leveraging current manufacturing infrastructure. This is expected to result in a new generation of computers that consume less power and possess a larger bandwidth.
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21 August 2021
Perspective|
August 19 2021
Materials for emergent silicon-integrated optical computing Available to Purchase
Alexander A. Demkov
;
Alexander A. Demkov
a)
1
Department of Physics, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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Chandrajit Bajaj
;
Chandrajit Bajaj
2
Department of Computer Science, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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John G. Ekerdt
;
John G. Ekerdt
3
Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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Chris J. Palmstrøm
;
Chris J. Palmstrøm
4
Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Materials, University of California
, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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S. J. Ben Yoo
S. J. Ben Yoo
5
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California
, Davis, California 95616, USA
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Alexander A. Demkov
1,a)
Chandrajit Bajaj
2
John G. Ekerdt
3
Chris J. Palmstrøm
4
S. J. Ben Yoo
5
1
Department of Physics, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
2
Department of Computer Science, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
3
Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
4
Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Materials, University of California
, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
5
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California
, Davis, California 95616, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
J. Appl. Phys. 130, 070907 (2021)
Article history
Received:
May 10 2021
Accepted:
August 01 2021
Citation
Alexander A. Demkov, Chandrajit Bajaj, John G. Ekerdt, Chris J. Palmstrøm, S. J. Ben Yoo; Materials for emergent silicon-integrated optical computing. J. Appl. Phys. 21 August 2021; 130 (7): 070907. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0056441
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