Optical Printed Circuit Board (O-PCB) as a Platform for VLSI Micro/Nano-Photonic Circuits and Networks

This paper presents an overview of the collective original work that we conduct at the OPERA National Research Center for VLSI photonic integration technology on the theory, design, fabrication, and integration of micro/nano-scale optical waveguides, photonic devices, optical circuits, and networks for applications in newly-conceived optical micro/nano-systems that we call "optical printed circuit boards" (O-PCBs) and "VLSI photonic integrated circuits"(VLSI-PICs). The is to realize O-PCBs and VLSI photonic circuits (AS-PICs) and networks of generic and application-specific functions that are compact, high-speed, intelligent, light-weight, low-energy and environmentally friendly, low-cost, and high-volume applications to complement or surpass the capabilities of electrical micro/nano-systems. The O-PCBs and VLSI-PICs process optical signals through optical wires, circuits, and networks in micro/nano-scale. They consist of 2-dimensional planar arrays of optical wires, circuits, devices, and networks of micro/nano-scale to perform the functions of sensing, storing, transporting, processing, switching, routing and distributing optical signals on flat modular boards or substrates. The integrated optical components include micro/nano-scale light sources, waveguides, detectors, switches, modulators, sensors, directional couplers, multi-mode interference devices, AWGs, ring-resonators, photonic crystal devices, plasmonic devices, and quantum devices, made of polymer, silicon and other semiconductor materials. Some molecular devices are also considered. This paper discusses scientific and technological issues, challenges, and approaches concerning the miniaturization, interconnection and integration of micro/nano-scale photonic devices, circuits, and networks leading to ultra-small and very large scale integration and discusses their use for datacom, telecom, transportation, aero/space/avionic and bio/sensor/environmental systems. Scaling rules for the miniaturization and i- ntegration of the micro/nano-photonic systems will be discussed in comparison with those of the micro/nano-electronic systems. New physics, visions and challenges of the optical micro/nano-optical networks and systems will be discussed along with the historical perspectives of the electrical technology. Recent progresses and examples will be presented.