Intel demos multi-wavelength laser array integrated on silicon wafer

Intel is claiming a significant advancement in its photonics research with an eight-wavelength laser array that is integrated on a silicon wafer, marking another step on the road to on-chip optical interconnects. This development from Intel Labs will enable the production of an optical source with the required performance for …

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm beginning to get these confused....

Real science:

"Intel used advanced lithography to define the waveguide gratings in silicon prior to the III-V wafer bonding process. This resulted in better wavelength uniformity compared to conventional semiconductor lasers, and the array also maintains its channel spacing in different ambient temperatures."

Made-up woo-woo nonsense (starfire water)

The result is a liquid with the water formed into small, biocompatible water crystals that resonate at a designed and predictable frequency. The specific frequencies of the crystalline structured water solution are designed to be amplified by the cells of the human body, and transferred through resonant paths to tissues in need of tuning.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

The press release describes dfb lasers, they are a completely standard design, if rather tricky to implement

The main reason they aren't more common is that if you need lots of laser power there are cheaper alternatives.

[stupid-frakking-handle]

300mm tech?

Damn's that's gonna be a big chip, power hungry as well :-)

[diodesign]

Re: 300mm tech?

I can't tell if you're joking or not, but 300mm refers to the silicon wafer size this stuff is built on. It's one of the standard wafer diameters.

It's not a whole wafer being used. It means the equipment Intel uses to make components from 300mm wafers can be used to make these arrays.

C.

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone has to say it

"Next stop – on-chip optical interconnects?"

You meant: "Next stop -- sharks with frickin integrated chips."

[mickaroo]

More Electronics Landfill?

>> if the optics fail, the entire chip becomes useless <<

I guess the chips will be soldered to the motherboard then...

[Rattus]

Re: More Electronics Landfill?

Whilst it is a shame that a failed laser array will result in the device being thrown out (or run at reduced capacity) the same is true for most other systems.

if an n core CPU or SoC fails and it is soldered onto the motherboard (or RAM) as is the case of most new laptops the same thing happens - into landfill.

We used to have modular electronics and compute systems, those days are gone with big corp trying to find ways to force users to replace machines more often (gone are the days users needed to upgrade their machines every few month because they weren't powerful enough to run even the simplest of tasks)