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Integrated photonics is a branch of study that examines the ability of integrated devices such as waveguides, lasers, detectors, etc on a single chip to achieve faster and more efficient transmission and processing of information. Although photonic circuits operate in a way that appears to be similar to that of electrons in electronic circuits, they rely on photons which travel at the speed of light, and consequently, they don’t have the same thermal problems. Photonic circuits also allow quantum phenomena to be exploited in processing. Such advantages can be paramount in a variety of applications including quantum computing and communications.
This Collection seeks to showcase the latest advances in integrated photonics, looking at the next generation of integrated photonic systems as well as the applications of their components.