Silicon photonics markets and applications overview (Invited Paper)

Silicon photonics has evolved significantly since the 1980s, transitioning from high-confinement waveguides to a technology integrated with CMOS industry processes, solidifying its dominance in the transceiver market. Despite this success, it remains a technology in active development with vast potential applications, particularly driven by the demand for faster data processing in AI and ML. With conventional computing architectures reaching limits, there's a growing need for faster data transmission, where silicon photonics excels. Beyond data centers and telecommunications, it holds promise in LiDAR, quantum computing, and medical applications, yet challenges like cost and regulation remain. The market is expected to experience rapid growth, reaching over $600M by 2028, showcasing its increasing importance in modern computing, communication, and sensing systems.