Photonic Materials and Processing

Abstract

Not long ago photonics affected our lives only in the display interface between users and machines. Now photonics is spreading into areasthat were the traditional domain ofelectronics: optical communications, optical memory, and optical interconnection. The trend is likely to continue, with photonics playing a major role in information switching and processing. This progress has been made possible by developing photonic materials with the required purity and physical and optical properties: glass fibers for transmission, semiconductors for lasers and detectors, and nonlinear optical materials for switching and processing. Future progress will continue to depend on improved materials and structures and, mostofall, on high-yield, low-cost processing materials.