Abstract
The development of silicon based photonic components and systems has advanced tremendously over the last decade, largely for applications in optical interconnects. The role of silicon - based platforms for both linear and nonlinear optics remains highly pertinent because of their ability to be integrated with CMOS - based electronics. In this paper, we present recent research progress pertaining to ultrafast optical signal processing on silicon based platforms. Advances in on chip multiplexing strategies with the potential for meeting 200GHz dense wavelength division multiplexing standards across the C - and L - bands will be discussed. In addition, the development of a silicon based nonlinear optics platform with high nonlinear figures of merit will be presented. Nonlinear optical devices fabricated from the developed platform possess nonlinear parameters 500 times larger than that in silicon nitride waveguides, while possessing negligible nonlinear losses at 1.55 mu m. Ultra - broadband, low power nonlinear wavelength generation using these devices, as well as their potential for realizing advanced light sources for optical interconnect based applications will be presented.