Topics

(IQPS) – Integrated Quantum Photonics and Signal Processing for Quantum Communications

Integrated Quantum Photonics is advancing rapidly, offering transformative potential for applications such as secure communication, high-performance computing, and ultra-sensitive sensors. However, challenges like high propagation losses and complex material integration remain. This workshop aims to address these hurdles and showcase innovations in on-chip quantum light sources and material integration. Quantum Communications, essential for secure data transmission, face limitations from hardware constraints and environmental noise. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Machine Learning (ML) are crucial for improving system performance, tackling issues like phase recovery, synchronisation, and error correction. Advanced ML models are pivotal in noise mitigation and optimizing quantum communication systems. By merging advancements in integrated quantum photonics with DSP and ML, our workshop will provide a collaborative space for academia and industry to discuss and drive forward quantum technology innovations.

(LBL) – Light by Light Manipulation for Next Generation Photonics

Light-by-light manipulation is a cornerstone in photonics, enabling one light beam to control another entirely within the optical domain. This concept underpins transformative innovations such as erbium-doped amplifiers, tunable parametric oscillators and passive mode-locking in ultrafast lasers. Ongoing research is pushing the boundaries of these technologies and exploring new functionalities, from advanced optical routing to optical computing. These applications embrace a multitude of platforms, including optical fibres, photonic integrated circuits and metasurfaces. By connecting experts in these diverse domains, this topic aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations and innovation for next-generation photonics.

(MATCHA) Multi-Channel Transceivers vs. High Symbol Rate for High-Speed Optical Transmission

The rapidly increasing throughput demands for optical links in data centers are driven by the accelerating commoditization of applications such as AI, Internet of Things, and Video on Demand. Current AI models are based on tens or hundreds of terabytes of training data which have to be transmitted at low cost and low power consumption per bit, which in turn has triggered optics to be utilized at ever-shorter transmission distances, from links spanning a few tens of kilometers between data centers all the way down to co-packaging with electronics, and with future expectations of optics to be utilized for chip-to-chip or on-chip communications. Other than short-reach and data center communications, optical transmission systems are also essential for metro, long-haul, and submarine communication, transporting aggregated data traffic from other segments of the network. These systems achieve high data rates by utilizing high symbol rates in combination with high spectral efficiencies.

For both short and long distances, the next-generation optical transmission systems are expected to achieve a significant step-up in throughput. This will be enabled by greatly increasing analog bandwidths and/or number of channels per transceiver, thanks to recent advancements in electronics and optics. This topic will cover two complementary, and at the same time, competing approaches for future optical transceivers to achieve higher throughput: ultra-high symbol rate per wavelength channel or large channel parallelization via integrated arrayed transceivers. The goal of this topic is to bring together researchers working on these two different approaches to inspire discussions, provide new perspectives, and promote potential collaborations. State of the art in electronics and optics for high symbol rate and/or high parallelization will be discussed. Research spanning from device to application level will be covered, discussing aspects such as discrete components (digital-to-analog converters, driver amplifiers, modulators, photodiodes, transimpedance amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters), electronic and photonic integration as well as packaged modules.

Following fields will be covered in this topic:

• 6 Tb/s and beyond optical modules
• Multi-channel transceivers and PICs
• Integrated arrays of active components (LDs, PDs, SOAs)
• Heterogeneous and hybrid integration approaches
• Advanced electronic/photonic packaging, including co-packaged optics
• High-density integration including 2D, 2.5D, and 3D integration technologies
• High-speed digital-to-analog (DAC) and analog-to-digital converters (ADC)
• Broadband analog electrical signal multiplexing (AMUX) and demultiplexing (ADeMUX)
• Digital bandwidth interleavers (DBI)
• Ultra-fast optical modulators and photodetectors
• Advanced modulation formats and techniques (FTN, PCS, SCM, etc.)
• Advanced digital signal processing for high-speed transmission (EEPN mitigation, nonlinear equalization, etc.)
• Novel applications and systems utilizing high-speed optics

(NLD) – Nonlinear Laser Dynamics

Nonlinear Laser Dynamics is a new meeting focusing on understanding and controlling the temporal behaviour of lasers, whether q-switched, mode-locked, chaotic or single-frequency. It aims to bring together researchers working in both industry and academia so that they have a chance to discuss common problems and find solutions. It will also serve to unite researchers working on difference classes of lasers including solid-state lasers, semi-conductor lasers and fibre based lasers. We invite researchers involved in modelling lasers to attend along with material scientists looking at creating saturable absorbers along with those making and using mode-locked lasers. Students and
early career researchers are especially welcome to attend and present their work.

(OA6G) – Optical Access and 6G networks: From Photonics to New Network Applications

The rise of demanding network applications are shaping a drastic transformation of the access and fronthaul networks with radical changes from photonics technologies up to new network functionalities. Optics is expected to play a critical role in lighting up the network of the future. Key topics will aim to cover four main areas of innovations, such Converged Optical Access Networks, Fiber Wireless fronthaul technologies, Satellite communications for 6G/beyond 5G and finally emerging functionalities, such as time-sensitive, deterministic traffic and fiber-sensing, tailored for the idiosyncrasy of the Point-to-MultiPoint optical access infrastructure.

 (PECDP) – Photonics-Electronics Convergence Devices and Packaging Technology for Future Datacenter and Computing Networks

This topic focuses on the latest photonics and electronics convergence technologies that enable the realization of explosively expanding AI data centers. In addition to silicon photonics and InP based devices, we will also discuss the latest packaging technologies such as Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and future optical chiplets. Furthermore, submissions on new low-power data center and computing architectures utilizing optoelectronic convergence technologies are expected.

 (SHINE) – Shaking Hand of Neuromorphic Computing & Optical Networks

Synergies between photonic neuromorphic computing and optical networks provide a groundbreaking solution in data processing and communication. We would invite outstanding researchers in this field, but not limited to, to submit their results as well as challenges for the use of Artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) in optical communications and in the related hardware, algorithms, networks & systems.

(SCHNITZEL) – Ultrastable Lasers Role in Insane Science

“Ultra-stable” and “ultra low linewidth” lasers have become a mainstay of many precision applications from fiber sensing, to quantum, to optical clocks, to ultra-low phase noise mmWave and RF signal generation.  Yet such systems have historically required lab-scale, expensive, power consuming systems. Photonic integration is the key next step to bringing these precision laser systems to the chip scale, reducing size, cost and power and enable new portable and mobile applications. This topic aims to gather researchers from the multiple distinct disciplines that require ultrastable lasers and their miniturization through photonic integration. Such fields include environmental sensing, frequency metrology, and telecommunications, space communication, big science and even quantum science.  Furthermore we will bring together the languages and ways to talk about laser performance from this wide range of communities to have a uniform new approach to ultra-stable lasers across the UV, to visible, to near-IR and mid-IR that we can place in phones, oceans, the artic, the Sahara, airplanes, spacecraft, trucks, datacenters and other planets. We encourage a wide range of application and integration solutions, we want to see why you need the laser and learn how you obtain such stability.