Photonic integrated circuit

A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) or integrated optical circuit is a device that integrates multiple photonic functions and as such is analogous to an electronic integrated circuit. The major difference between the two is that a photonic integrated circuit provides functionality for information signals imposed on optical wavelengths typically in the visible spectrum or near infrared 850 nm-1650 nm.

A 2005 development[1] solved a quantum noise problem that prevented silicon from being used to generate laser light, permitting new integrated circuits to use high-bandwidth laser light generated within the circuit itself as a signal medium