Silicon photonics deals with the study and application of photonic systems that use silicon as an optical medium. Silicon photonic devices can be made using actual semiconductor fabrication techniques, and because silicon is already used as the substrate for most integrated circuits, it is possible to create hybrid devices in which the optical and electronic components are integrated onto a single chip. This field of research is actually focused on studying light modulators, optical waveguides and amplifiers, detectors, photonic crystals, etc.
The timely second edition of this book describes in depth different aspects of silicon nanophotonics from fundamentals to industrial devices. The book has gone straight to the top of my reading recommendations for my students interested in nanophotonics.
Review by Christian Brosseau, OSA Fellow and professor of physics, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or OSA.