High Performance Integrated Circuits for Lightwave Systems.

This paper surveys integrated circuits for lightwave systems that have been reported in the literature and that function at data rates ranging from approximately 500 Mb/s to 6 Gb/s. Components reviewed include multiplexer/ demultiplexer, laser drivers, preamplifiers/amplifiers, timing recovery and decision circuits. Technologies covered include silicon bipolar and NMOS, and gallium arsenide MESFET. The paper concludes with a brief look at reported state-of-the-art IC technologies which include silicon bipolar and NMOS, and GaAs MESFET, SDHT, and heterojunction bipolar. Device parameters influencing circuit operating speed are reviewed.