Semiconductor today

Epiwafer and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK is strengthening its portfolio of high-speed optical connectivity epiwafers to address increasing demands for artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, carrier and data-intensive workloads. ..

Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes optical and photonic products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) has announced performance enhancements to its 800ZR+ transceivers that enable the modules to serve a wider range of applications, including expanded use in metro and regional networks through the ability to interface directly into routers...

TRUMPF Photonic Components GmbH of Ulm, Germany (part of the TRUMPF Group) — which makes vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and photodiodes for the consumer electronics, datacoms, industrial sensing & heat treatment and automotive markets — has announced a “breakthrough” by transferring its proprietary, patented subwavelength surface-grating technology (developed since 2006 and implemented on tens of millions of VCSELs for sensing applications) from its sensing products to datacom VCSELs, where it is said to bring a competitive edge for the firm’s 100Gbps VCSEL with lower relative intensity noise (RIN) and robust polarization stability...

TRUMPF Photonic Components GmbH of Ulm, Germany (part of the TRUMPF Group) — which makes vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and photodiodes for the consumer electronics, datacoms, industrial sensing & heat treatment and automotive markets — has announced a transmission reach extended to 500m with its 980nm VCSEL and a multi-mode fiber optimized for this wavelength...

In booth #3412 at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (26–28 March), materials, networking and laser technology firm Coherent Corp of Saxonburg, PA, USA is showcasing its new products and technologies for next-generation optical communications networks, as well as presenting at panels, technical sessions, and other OFC events...

Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes optical and photonic products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) has introduced the latest additions to its suite of photonic products at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (26–28 March)...

Sivers Semiconductors AB of Kista, Sweden (which supplies ICs and modules for communications and sensor solutions) says that its subsidiary Sivers Photonics of Glasgow, Scotland, UK — in collaboration with ecosystem partners — is demonstrating its laser chip and array technology at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (26–28 March)...

EPC Space LLC of Haverhill, MA, USA says that Avnet has agreed to be a global distributor for its line of radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride (GaN) power devices qualified for satellite and high-reliability applications...

Sivers Semiconductors AB of Kista, Sweden (which supplies lasers for AI photonics and integrated chips & modules for communications and sensor solutions) says that CEO Anders Storm has decided to leave his position for new challenges outside the company. Sivers has initiated a global search for a new CEO. Storm will remain in post until the new CEO has taken office or until the end of his six-month notice period in September...

Materials, networking and laser technology firm Coherent Corp of Saxonburg, PA, USA has established what it says is the world’s first capability for 6-inch indium phosphide (InP) wafer fabrication, in its fabs in Sherman, Texas, and Järfälla, Sweden...

Independent power electronics company Quantum Power Transformation (QPT) Ltd of Cambridge, UK (which was founded in 2019 and develops GaN-based electric motor controls) says that its Crowdcube funding round (which closes soon) has surpassed £1m...

With the continuous surge in demand for silicon carbide (SiC) substrates in recent years, the call for cost reduction in SiC has been growing stronger, as the ultimate product price remains the key determinant for consumers, says market research firm TrendForce...

At the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (24–28 March), TRUMPF Photonic Components GmbH of Ulm, Germany (part of the TRUMPF Group) – which makes vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and photodiodes for the consumer electronics, datacoms, industrial sensing & heat treatment and automotive markets – is demonstrating 100Gbps VCSEL performance together with customer Optomind Inc of Suwon, South Korea, which provides optical interconnect solutions for data centers including artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) networks. With increasing demand for multi-channel high-speed data transmission in artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-based hyperscale cloud computing space, 800Gbps data rate at 100Gbps per lane and beyond is essential...

Silicon photonics-based chip-to-chip optical connectivity firm Ayar Labs of Santa Jose, CA, USA is presenting its latest technology advances and ecosystem partnerships in booth #1511 at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (24–28 March)...

At the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2024) in San Diego, CA, USA (26–28 March), materials, networking and laser technology firm Coherent Corp of Saxonburg, PA, USA is demonstrating its 800Gbps coherent transceiver module in QSFP-DD form factor, operated in 800G ZR mode transmitting over 9000ps/nm of dispersion (equivalent to about 450km of fiber)...

Private rare-earths exploration, development and process technology company US Critical Materials Corp of Salt Lake City, Utah, has confirmed what it calls a “strategically significant” deposit of high-grade gallium on its 6700 acres of claims in Sheep Creek, Montana...

Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc (5N+) of Montreal, Québec, Canada is officially launching the commercialization rights for its portfolio of gallium nitride on silicon (GaN-on-Si) patents which, it says, can enable the rapid prototype development and first-to-market commercialization of novel vertical GaN-on-Si power devices by companies operating in the high-power electronics (HPE), electric vehicles (EV) and artificial intelligence (AI) server sectors...

EFFECT Photonics b.v. – a spin off from the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) in The Netherlands – has secured $38m in a Series D funding round, led by Innovation Industries Strategic Partners Fund, backed by Dutch pension funds PMT and PME, along with co-investor Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund and participation from other existing investors...

Benefitting from robust demand from downstream applications, market research firm TrendForce forecasts that the silicon carbide (SiC) power device market will grow to $5.33bn by 2026, with mainstream applications still highly reliant on electric vehicles and renewable energy sources...

Epitaxial deposition and process equipment maker Veeco Instruments Inc of Plainview, NY, USA has released its fifth Sustainability Report highlighting its progress towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. Reflecting 2023 data, this Sustainability Report demonstrates continued progress and commitment to executing a robust sustainability strategy, says the firm...