Feb 26 2016
Lightwave Logic, Inc., a technology company focused on the development of Next Generation Photonic Devices and Non-Linear Optical Polymer Materials Systems for applications in high speed fiber-optic telecommunications and data communications, announced today that it has successfully guided laser light through 16 of its passive single-mode ridge waveguides made entirely out of the Company's advanced organic polymer systems.
These passive results are an important milestone in the development process as they demonstrate the company's ability to design and fabricate single-mode waveguides, which are the building block of waveguide modulators. It is critical that guided light remain single-mode throughout the length of its on-chip propagation in order to achieve high modulator performance.
Single-mode light is very important for both datacenter and telecommunications applications that require data to be moved at distances greater than 500 meters. Unlike multimode fiber, single-mode fiber allows light to travel with less distortion over longer distances and is less expensive.
The Lightwave Logic commercialization effort will now enter the next phases of development: passive-waveguide loss measurements, followed by the development and active testing of electro-optic modulators. Utilizing continuous-wave input laser light, electro-optic modulators convert digital (binary) electrical data into output pulses of light that can be transported across fiber optical communication networks. Active testing is accomplished by applying an electrical signal to a modulator and evaluating the resulting output optical signal.
Tom Zelibor, Lightwave Logic's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Needless to say, we are extremely enthused about the results that we have just demonstrated. This is an important step in our device development program and we can now move forward to demonstrate the ability of these first all-polymer devices to modulate light.
"Our ability to successfully modulate light for longer distance applications in the market can fulfill a tremendous commercial need that we intend to pursue. The end result of this capability will be more ubiquitous 100 Gbps and 400 Gbps solutions that the market is demanding."
"The photonics industry is rapidly becoming aware of Polymer Photonics as a viable replacement technology that can provide cost effective solutions that can alleviate many technology pain points that threaten the ability to meet the almost endless demand for data at faster speeds, especially for datacenter applications. Lightwave's competitive advantage is the ability to scale performance versus cost. This is a major selling point that will continue to generate interest in our growing capabilities."
Source: http://www.lightwavelogic.com/