The increasing bandwidth requirements and interconnect data rates require use of optics for data transport at ever smaller distances. Currently, the biggest obstacles in the commercialisation of optical backplane technology for high performance computing devices are performance and cost considerations. High optical losses in optical interconnects due to materials, signal routing, and input/output coupling give rise to limited performance. The research project targets the development of optical waveguide amplifiers based on rare-earth-ion doped amorphous Al2O3 as well as potassium yttrium double tungstate (KYW). We aim at investigating and developing optical amplifiers operating at 850 nm, 1000 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths and optimise their integration into optical backplanes. |
