<Ultra-high-bandwidth connection for data centers>

 Cloud computing and big data applications have fueled the rapid growth of datacenters. As the data traffic continues to grow at a fast pace, the majority of the traffic (about 75%) remains within the datacenter. The legacy networks are unable to handle the growing demand of cloud computing. New networks with flatter leaf-spine architecture are increasingly used to facilitate the communication between servers and storages. However, as the per-server link speeds continue to increase, it has become challenging for the CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) switch to provide high radix at high port-bandwidth. Several hybrid datacenter network architectures that use optical switching to augment the electronic packet switching have been proposed. We have reported a new type of silicon photonic switch with MEMS (micro-electromechanical-system) switching mechanism.

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-H. Y. Hwang, J. S. Lee, T. J. Seok, A. Forencich, H. R. Grant, D. Knutson, N. Quack, S. Han, R. S. Muller, G. C. Papen, M. C. Wu, and P. O'. Brien, “Flip chip packaging of digital silicon photonics MEMS switch for cloud computing and data centre,” IEEE Photonics Journal, 2017, 9 (3), 1-10.

-M. C. Wu, T. J. Seok, and S. Han, “Silicon photonic switches for datacenters,” Frontiers in Optics, 2016, OSA, FTu1D.6.