Optical interconnects: introduction by the feature editors Joseph W. Goodman and Lynn D. Hutcheson Some thirteen papers in this 10Mar. 1990issue of Applied Optics consider the technologyand use of optical interconnects. This introduction also briefly discusses where the field is going. The feature papers in this issue of Applied Optics are devoted to optical interconnections. By this term we mean use of optics for providing communication between different modules within an electronic computer. The use of optics can in principle be at any one of several levels of the interconnect hierarchy, ranging from processor-to-memory, to backplane-to-backplane, to board-to-board, to chip-to-chip, and in principle, even gate-to-gate. Optical interconnects are also fundamental to the all-optical computer, should optical logic gates prove to be competitive with their electronic counterparts. The subject of optical interconnects is broad, ranging from devices to systems and from algorithms to architectures. Many of these different aspects of the problem are represented in these feature papers. The field has reached a point where there is no longer a need to ask whether optics will be used for interconnections-it already is in use in several cases. Rather, the appropriate question, as yet not fully answered, is how far down the interconnect hierarchy will optics find practical use. It will surely find use at the highest levels (e.g.,processor-to-memory) and probably not at the lowest levels (e.g., gate-to-gate). Where in the hierarchy, then, will optics become inappropriate as an interconnect technology? This remains the central unresolved question of the field. Joseph Goodman is with Stanford University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford, California 94305, and Lynn Hut- cheson is with Raynet Corporation, 181 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025. Received 14 December 1989. 0003-6935/90/081067-01$02.00/0. © 1990 Optical Society of America. 10 March 1990 / Vol. 29, No. 8 / APPLIED OPTICS 1067

Optical interconnects: introduction by the feature editors

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Optical interconnects: introduction by the feature editors

Joseph W. Goodman and Lynn D. Hutcheson

Some thirteen papers in this 10 Mar. 1990 issue of Applied Optics consider the technology and use of opticalinterconnects. This introduction also briefly discusses where the field is going.

The feature papers in this issue of Applied Opticsare devoted to optical interconnections. By this termwe mean use of optics for providing communicationbetween different modules within an electronic com-puter. The use of optics can in principle be at any oneof several levels of the interconnect hierarchy, rangingfrom processor-to-memory, to backplane-to-back-plane, to board-to-board, to chip-to-chip, and in prin-ciple, even gate-to-gate. Optical interconnects arealso fundamental to the all-optical computer, shouldoptical logic gates prove to be competitive with theirelectronic counterparts.

The subject of optical interconnects is broad, rang-ing from devices to systems and from algorithms toarchitectures. Many of these different aspects of theproblem are represented in these feature papers. Thefield has reached a point where there is no longer aneed to ask whether optics will be used for intercon-nections-it already is in use in several cases. Rather,the appropriate question, as yet not fully answered, ishow far down the interconnect hierarchy will opticsfind practical use. It will surely find use at the highestlevels (e.g., processor-to-memory) and probably not atthe lowest levels (e.g., gate-to-gate). Where in thehierarchy, then, will optics become inappropriate as aninterconnect technology? This remains the centralunresolved question of the field.

Joseph Goodman is with Stanford University, Department ofElectrical Engineering, Stanford, California 94305, and Lynn Hut-cheson is with Raynet Corporation, 181 Constitution Drive, MenloPark, California 94025.

10 March 1990 / Vol. 29, No. 8 / APPLIED OPTICS 1067