Programmable integrated photonics: a new paradigm for low cost multifunctional optics

¹ Photonics Research labs, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
² iPronics, Programmable Photonics, València, Spain

^* jose.capmany@ipronics.com

Abstract

This article presents the rationale, basic principles of operation, technology stack, and areas of application of a new technology approach called programmable integrated photonic. In essence, it is based on the same high-level concepts that inspired several decades ago the birth of programmable integrated electronic devices such as the microprocessor, the field programmable gate array, and the digital signal processor. We provide a final discussion on its current limiting challenges.