NEBULA was a project that aimed to make data centers more efficient and powerful by using the more cost effective Si3N4 material platform for connecting Data Centers. Data centers are places where computers store and process huge amounts of information. They need a lot of energy and space, and they generate a lot of heat. NEBULA wanted to solve these problems by using light instead of electricity for the data exchange between the computers.
NEBULA developed new devices that can modulate light, which means changing its properties to encode information. These devices are very small, fast, and use less energy than the existing ones. They can also work without any external drivers, which are electronic components that control them. NEBULA also created new devices that can detect light signals and correct any errors or distortions that may occur during transmission, relying on optical means instead of conventional electronic ones used today that are expensive and power hungry.
After almost four years, NEBULA achieved the following remarkable results towards making the data exchange in Data Centers cheaper and “greener”:
The creation of the first Si3N4 device that can modulate light at a very high speed of 216 billion bits per second for 2 level-signals, and 256 billion bits per second for 4 level signals. This is the fastest device of its kind in this material platform ever made.
The creation of another type of very compact Si3N4 device that can modulate light with very low loss. This device can operate at 200 billion bits per second for 2 level signals, and 352 billion bits per second for 4-level signals. This device is also very compact, with a length of less than 10 micrometers, which is about one-tenth of the width of a human hair.
The creation of the first Si3N4 device that can detect light signals and correct any errors or distortions that may occur during transmission. This device uses a special technique called reservoir computing, which mimics the way the brain processes information. This device can handle 28 billion bits per second for 2- level signals, and 56 billion bits per second for 4-level signals encoded in phase.
The creation of new electronic components that can drive the modulators and amplify the signals. These components have a very high bandwidth, which means they can handle a lot of data. They can work with 200 billion bits per second for each lane.
The development of new devices that can amplify light signals before they are detected. These devices work in the C-band and have a very high bandwidth as well. They can provide clear and strong signals with a quality factor of more than 5 for 53 billion symbols per second for both 2-level and 4-level signals.
The successful demonstration of a new technology that can stabilize the devices that modulate light. This technology uses heat to adjust the devices in real time, within 20 milliseconds, which is very fast. This technology can prevent the devices from drifting or changing due to external factors such as temperature or humidity.
In conclusion, Europe through NEBULA has demonstrated the potential of Si3N4 as a material for data center interconnects, offering unprecedented performance, scalability, and energy efficiency. By developing all these novel technologies to transmit light within the Data Centers, NEBULA has contributed to the development of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly information technology.
