Switching energy and device size limits on digital photonic signal processing technologies

Abstract

The relationship between device size and power consumption of photonic signal processing devices is derived using device-specific models for photonic signal processing using semiconductor optical amplifiers, periodically poled lithium niobate, and highly nonlinear fibers. The results are then compared with the power-length characteristics of CMOS digital devices. The general conclusion is that photonic signal processing technologies demand significantly larger space and/or power than CMOS technologies. © 2008 IEEE.