Advancements in Silicon Photonics - Optical Signal Processing by Silicon Photonics - page 44

fabrication processes. Silicon-based micro-nano device technology is anticipated
to get more maturity in its status. It may be appropriate to phrase this in the evolu-
tion of “lithic” era as the “silicon age.”
The nanotechnology's range has been developed as an outcome of continuous
investor's faith consequential from a positive feedback provided by improvements
in the fabrication techniques and machine's limitations in market like cost, size, port-
ability, functionality, etc. Improved processing techniques cause advancement in
devices and characterization methods, have escorted to better consideration of sci-
ence at the nano-scale thus most developed simulation techniques have discovered.
The challenge actually is the development of silicon IC which is compatible
with micro-photonic technology. Moreover, if silicon is the selected material then
merging of these optical devices with CMOS circuits, simplifies the system further
relatively. Silicon photonics may be defined as design and fabrication of photonic

(a)

LOGIC

1

1 0 0

0 1 1 0

A

1 0 1 0

XOR

B

A XOR B

DEMULTIPLEXING

1 1

0

1

1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

0 0

DATA

0 1

REGENRATION

0

1 1 1

1 1 0 1

REGEN

Fig. 4.9 a Basic principle/configurations of optical signal processing devices [ 15 ]. b Basic principle/
configurations of optical signal processing devices [ 15 ]