Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) Photonics: Issues, Challenges and Visions

This presentation discourses on a newly emerging frontier technology called VLSI (very large scale integrated) photonics.  It is a new field of optical circuit or optical network technology rapidly evolving in micro/nano-scale yet to complete the unfinished information revolution brought forth by the megascale optical fiber-based  global network.  It discusses the science and engineering of micro/nano-photonics and integration that can lead to VLSI photonic circuits and networks of generic and application-specific nature.  The world in the 21st century is facing many new kinds of problems, including increasing demand for big data, higher information capacity, increasing population, increasing cost of energy, shortage of food and natural resources, environmental problems, global warming, increasing medical and health problems, and increasing demand for well living.  Electron-based technology in the 20th century is beginning to show many limitations in the face of these and other rising problems.  Photon-based technology, on the other hand, is showing many new promises that can lead to solutions to many of thes problems that electrons alone cannot.  Compact, high-speed, light-weight, and low-powered optical and photonic micro/nano-systems using nano-wires, micro/nano-structures, plasmonics, and metamaterials, show possibilities of new properties and functions that can provide new solutions for the rising problems, that can address green and sustainable IT/BT/NT applications in the 21st century.  The new optical systems consist of arrays of micro/nano-scale optical wires, circuits and devices on chips or on modular boards to perform the functions of sensing, switching, modulating, processing, transporting, routing, and distributing optical signals. The optical components include micro/nano-scale light sources, waveguides, detectors, switches, modulators, sensors, couplers, filters, resonators, photonic crystal devices, plasmonic devices, and quantum structures, made of polymer, silicon and other semiconductor micro/nano-materials.  We discuss scientific and technological issues and challenges for the miniaturization and integration of micro/nano-scale photonic materials, devices, circuits, and networks for ultra-small and high-density integration and application.  It includes new physics, theories, materials, designs, and structures.  New perspectives and visions will be discussed along with the historical perspectives of the electrical technology.  Recent progresses and examples will be presented.