Integrated photonics with programmable non-volatile memory

• DOI: 10.1038/srep22616
• Publication Date: 2016-03-04T10:50:03Z
• Authors: Jun-Feng Song; Xian-Shu Luo; Andy Eu-Jin Lim; Chao Li; Qing Fang; Tsung-Yang Liow; Lian-Xi Jia; Xiao-Guang Tu; Ying Huang; Hai-Feng Zhou; Guo-Qiang Lo
• Keywords: Non-Volatile Memory

Abstract Silicon photonics integrated circuits (Si-PIC) with well-established active and passive building elements are progressing towards large-scale commercialization in optical communications high speed interconnects applications. However, current Si-PICs do not have memory capabilities, particular, the non-volatile functionality for energy efficient data storage. Here, we propose an electrically programmable, multi-level cell (PMC) fabricated by standard complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatible processes. A micro-ring resonator (MRR) was built using PMC to optically read states. Switching smaller than 20 pJ achieved. Additionally, a MRR array employed demonstrate four-bit capacity. Theoretically, this can be increased up ~400 times 100 nm free spectral range broadband light source. The fundamental concept of design provides route eliminate von Neumann bottleneck. energy-efficient storage complement on-chip neutral networking, input/output interfaces other computational intensive