Where traditional computer chips push electrons through copper wires, silicon photonic chips guide photons (particles of light) through tiny channels called waveguides etched into the same silicon material. The silicon is usually patterned with sub-micrometre precision, into microphotonic components. Extending Moore's Law is becoming increasingly difficult; post-nanometer breakthroughs face formidable obstacles, including skyrocketing. Photonic crystals with extremely high quality cavities. Waveguide losses dominated by scattering. Use better litho + etch CROSSINGS. Optional undercut to lower thermal leakage. ELECTRO-OPTIC EFFECT IN SILICON: INJECTION VS. In. Not only does silicon photonics eliminate the need for hand assembly of 100s of piece parts, silicon photonics chips are much, much smaller than the optical subassemblies they replace.
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