At the Optica Photonic-Enabled Cloud Computing (PECC) Summit, , co-hosted by Optica and the Advanced Photonics Coalition at the HPE + Juniper Networks Aspiration Dome, Brad Booth, CEO of NLM Photonics, presented new data on the company’s silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) electro-optic technology, demonstrating how organic materials can deliver high performance, low power, and cost-efficient photonics for next-generation data center and AI interconnects. Booth said NLM’s mission is to enable the ecosystem through licensing rather than manufacturing. NLM has an exclusive license with Caltech for the silicon organic hybrid (SOH) patents that were created by Tom Baehr-Jones and Michael Hochberg, who were founders of Luxtera and Elenion, acquired by Cisco and Nokia, respectively. NLM also has exclusive licenses to the University of Washington patents that the team created during their tenure, plus patents generated by NLM.
Key performance metrics from NLM’s latest 1.6T and 3.2T photonic integrated circuits (PICs) include:
- Electro-optic response: >300 pm/V @ 1290 nm
- Bandwidth: >80 GHz for 1.6T PIC; >110 GHz for 3.2T PIC
- Modulation efficiency: 0.4–0.6 V·mm (best 0.31 V·mm)
- Demonstrated 1.6T DR8 PAM4 optical link with >25 dB ER
- Scalable to 800G using silicon-organic hybrid architecture
NLM’s approach emphasizes manufacturability and reliability within standard foundry processes:
- Fabricated on AMF’s O-band GP v4.5 platform — no process modification required
- Co-designed with Enosemi (now AMD) and Centera Photonics
- Localized deposition of Selerion-HTX organic material with conformal encapsulation
- Foundry projects underway with AIM, Spark Photonics, and Epiphany
- Projected T₈₀ lifetime: >11 years at 120°C; verified operation up to 135°C
- Encapsulated devices show no performance degradation under laser stress
Booth emphasized that NLM will license IP and materials technology rather than compete in device manufacturing, working with foundries, OSATs, and material suppliers to bring silicon-organic hybrid processes to volume production.
“Organics give you incredible performance, but at a cost and power efficiency that’s far more affordable,” Booth said. “Silicon photonics isn’t dead — our goal is to enable the industry to use this hybrid technology.”
NLM plans to begin sampling its 1.6T and 3.2T SOH PICs by late 2025 and early 2026. The company expects the first commercial foundry offerings to appear in 2026–2027 as ecosystem partners qualify materials and processes for scale.
🔗 www.nlmphotonics.com | LinkedIn
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