Application specific photonic integrated circuits for telecommunications

Application specific photonic integrated circuits (ASPICs) are the new generation of optoelectronic devices that may be effectively deployed in optical communication systems of the future [1]. The most significant advantages of PICs are small size and weight, high efficiency and low power consumption. Nowadays, a novel, standardized method for fabrication of ASPICs has been developed within the framework of the EU FP7 projects EuroPIC and PARADIGM [2]. It is based on a generic integration concept [3], which assumes that complex photonic circuits with multiple functionalities can be designed and manufactured using a limited set of standardized and parameterized basic building blocks.