Are Silicon Photonics the Only Way Forward in Semiconductors?

Silicon photonics is not just a buzzword—it's the future of the semiconductor industry, and we're here to uncover its secrets with Dr. Lee Chee Wai.

Dr. Lee Chee Wei is a distinguished expert in silicon photonics integration, boasting an extensive career spanning over 18 years. Holding a PhD in Photonics Integration from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Lee has honed his skills both in academia and the industry. His academic journey was supported by prestigious awards, including the ASEAN Scholarship, ASTAR Graduate Scholarship, and ASTAR Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Currently, Dr. Lee is pivotal in advancing the commercialization of data center silicon photonics. His technical acumen extends to the design of photonic integrating circuits, and the development and design of advanced fabrication and packaging technologies. Dr. Lee's contributions to the field are highlighted by his extensive portfolio of more than 30 internationally filed patents and over 50 peer-reviewed journal publications. His work bridges the gap between east and west, showcasing a global impact in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Technology.

Discover how the convergence of light and silicon is about to shatter the limitations of traditional CMOS technology, unlocking unparalleled data speeds and efficiency, crucial for the demands of Gen AI and modern data centers. Dr. Lee guides us through the transformative potential of merging photonic and electronic components on a single chip with EPIC Electronics.

Our conversation takes a serious look at the nuts and bolts of integrating silicon photonics with CMOS. We confront the challenges head-on—material incompatibilities, efficient signal conversion, and heat dissipation—and discuss cutting-edge solutions like co-packaged optics and heterogeneous integration that are setting the stage for future advancements. With a focus on scaling these innovations for commercial viability since 2017, we discuss how these developments could redefine the semiconductor landscape. Tune in to grasp how silicon photonics stands as a beacon of promise, ready to reshape data centers and elevate the semiconductor industry with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

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