Recent startup Qusion Technologies (Princeton, NJ)has announced its intention to develop and market optical modules that will integrate separate components into one device for use in 40-Gbit/s optical network systems. Monolithic integration, as the process is called, means that components such as waveguides, splitters, switches, and so forth are all part of one integrated circuit made out of indium phosphide (InP), rather than hundreds of independent components from different manufacturers that are added into different systems. The cost of InP has so far limited its advantages, but use of semiconductor processing techniques will allow a higher number of chips to be manufactured on the same wafer, reducing cost.
Qusion Technologies is affiliated with the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL; University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL), started in Nov. 2000 with venture capital of $1 million. Facilities are located in Princeton and South Brunswick, NJ. Qusion's first advanced optical module incorporating optical-switches and modulators will be available in the beginning of 2001 with more integrated modules to follow.
Valerie Coffey-Rosich | Contributing Editor
Valerie Coffey-Rosich is a freelance science and technology writer and editor and a contributing editor for Laser Focus World; she previously served as an Associate Technical Editor (2000-2003) and a Senior Technical Editor (2007-2008) for Laser Focus World.
Valerie holds a BS in physics from the University of Nevada, Reno, and an MA in astronomy from Boston University. She specializes in editing and writing about optics, photonics, astronomy, and physics in academic, reference, and business-to-business publications. In addition to Laser Focus World, her work has appeared online and in print for clients such as the American Institute of Physics, American Heritage Dictionary, BioPhotonics, Encyclopedia Britannica, EuroPhotonics, the Optical Society of America, Photonics Focus, Photonics Spectra, Sky & Telescope, and many others. She is based in Palm Springs, California.