On-Chip Silicon Photonics for Data Center Interconnects

Lucas and Luna explore how silicon photonics is moving from lab curiosity to production inside data centers. They focus on a specific case: Intel's recent demonstration of an integrated photonic engine that replaces traditional copper cabling between server racks. The pair break down how this works at the chip level — modulators, waveguides, and photodetectors etched into standard CMOS silicon — and what the performance numbers actually mean: 800 gigabits per second over fiber, with power draw below 5 picojoules per bit. They discuss why this matters for AI clusters, where copper bottlenecks are already a headache. The conversation also touches on the economics: silicon photonics leverages existing fabs, potentially lowering cost per port compared to discrete optics. A concrete look at a technology that quietly changes how data moves. #SiliconPhotonics #DataCenter #Intel #OpticalInterconnect #CMOS #Photonics #ChipDesign #DataCenterNetworking #AIHardware #800G #PowerEfficiency #FiberOptics #Semiconductor #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheHardwarePodcast #OnChip Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo