Silicon Photonics

Preface

We started writing this book in late 2014. At the time, silicon photonics was in a quiet period. The excitement that greeted the early announcements and later a spate of silicon photonics acquisitions had, by then, been replaced by pragmatism as the industry understood not only the technology’s merits but also its challenges. Many in the industry were keeping a watching brief while others remained skeptical, questioning whether silicon photonics was a viable technology [1,2].

Silicon photonics’ quiet period has ended. As we complete the book in late 2016, the year has seen more players enter the marketplace with silicon photonics’ products, more acquisitions, and even a successful initial public offering, by Acacia Communications.