About this Research Topic
Over the past 20 years, the ever-increasing maturity of integrated photonic technologies has enabled a multitude of cutting-edge information processing applications to emerge, envisioning photonics as an energy-efficient and high-speed deployment technological process. While complex information computing and processing tasks have traditionally been dominated by electronics, integrated photonics is now emerging as a capable contender, addressing highly promising yet challenging processing paradigms in both classical and quantum domains. Areas such as photonic computing, photonic memories, optical neural networks and AI chipsets, photonic quantum computing, RF and optical beamforming, and MIMO processing towards 5G/6G communications and sensing comprise a snapshot of photonics’ potential to penetrate the information processing segment. Significant strides in nanofabrication techniques have played a pivotal role, enabling the development of diverse integrated optics platforms, including silicon and silicon compound technologies, thin film dielectric crystals, and glass; all of which enable the integration of an increasingly large number of components within the same Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) device. Fiber-based architectures and monolithic micro-optics assemblies also represent a useful complement to on-chip photonic technologies for processing purposes. This flourishing landscape underscores the transformative potential of integrated photonics in revolutionizing information processing and communication technologies.
Despite the impressive progress, substantial challenges persist. The on-chip development of fast modulators and efficient switching devices remains a critical frontier, as does the imperative to minimize optical losses while also enhancing the interfacing capabilities with optical fibers. The realization of hybrid platforms through the integration of active components and light sources, both in the classical and quantum domain, presents a significant challenge. Additionally, the integration of advanced photodetectors, such as single-photon avalanche photodiodes, superconducting nanowire detectors, and fast photodiodes, represents a pivotal aspect in ensuring the efficacy and versatility of integrated photonics systems. On the system-scale, the efficient deployment of linear and non-linear transformations at chip-scale requires the development of new architectural paradigms which can utilize the rich dimensional pool of optics, including space, time, frequency, polarization, and wavelengths.
This Research Topic aims to delve into the aforementioned challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art research in integrated photonics for information processing applications, spanning from individual components (modulators, switches, transceiver etc.) up to sophisticated system architectures in the following fields:
- Digital optical computing and Photonic DSP
- Quantum computing
- Analog photonic computing
- Photonic neural networks
- Optical beamformers
- Optical phase arrays for lidar/radar applications
- Optical processing for communication and sensing
- Photonic DACs/ADCs
- Unitary and universal linear optics
- Photonic memories
- Photonic hardware accelerators
- AI and Deep Learning using integrated photonics
Despite the impressive progress, substantial challenges persist. The on-chip development of fast modulators and efficient switching devices remains a critical frontier, as does the imperative to minimize optical losses while also enhancing the interfacing capabilities with optical fibers. The realization of hybrid platforms through the integration of active components and light sources, both in the classical and quantum domain, presents a significant challenge. Additionally, the integration of advanced photodetectors, such as single-photon avalanche photodiodes, superconducting nanowire detectors, and fast photodiodes, represents a pivotal aspect in ensuring the efficacy and versatility of integrated photonics systems. On the system-scale, the efficient deployment of linear and non-linear transformations at chip-scale requires the development of new architectural paradigms which can utilize the rich dimensional pool of optics, including space, time, frequency, polarization, and wavelengths.
This Research Topic aims to delve into the aforementioned challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art research in integrated photonics for information processing applications, spanning from individual components (modulators, switches, transceiver etc.) up to sophisticated system architectures in the following fields:
- Digital optical computing and Photonic DSP
- Quantum computing
- Analog photonic computing
- Photonic neural networks
- Optical beamformers
- Optical phase arrays for lidar/radar applications
- Optical processing for communication and sensing
- Photonic DACs/ADCs
- Unitary and universal linear optics
- Photonic memories
- Photonic hardware accelerators
- AI and Deep Learning using integrated photonics
Keywords: Classical Information Processing, Quantum Information Processing, Integrated Photonics
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