The Belgian research center imec has developed an optical receiver that can process 200 GB of data per second. This is intended to help with the ever-increasing data traffic from data centers.

At the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Glasgow, Scotland, Ghent IDLab, part of imec, presented an optical receiver capable of processing 200 GB of data traffic per second.

Double factor

The researchers combined a SiGe BiCMOS electronic circuit with a traveling wave tube and a germanium photodetector from Silicon Photonics. This merger not only creates the necessary speed, but also scalability.

These two factors are crucial as we process more and more data, including 5G, AI and the cloud. Optical communication networks in data centers must therefore be able to work ever faster.

More strength for the future

According to Professor Peter Ossieur of IDLab, the most powerful optical data communications transceivers now handle 800 GB per second over 8 channels at 100 GB per second. Doubling this capacity means reducing the cost, power consumption and complexity of transceivers.

With SiGe BiCMOS, imec can not only integrate more functions, the chips can also be produced in larger quantities. In Glasgow, the team carried out a demonstration using an Imec silicon photonics Ge photodetector integrated silicon photonics platform (iSiPP). This involves telecommunications and data communication as well as medical diagnoses.

The project receives support from the European Union and will be presented during the European Conference on Optical Communications.

imec has also been working on sustainable chip production for some time. The organization is now getting help from some big names in the tech world.