Research into the development of InP-based photonic materials and devices is to receive a £1.7 million cash boost.

The funding has been announced by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and is aimed at speeding up current developments within the department's technology programme.

Plans for the project, which will be carried out over two and a half years, will focus on the production of aluminum-based devices, allowing for high-temperature operations, and the improvement of semi-insulating current blocking layers.

Devices to benefit from the development include semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), superluminescent diodes (SLDs), avalanche photo diodes (APDs), and fixed frequency and widely tuneable lasers, according to Lightwave magazine.

Members of the consortium, such as the Centre for Integrated Photonics (CIP), are confident the advances in technology will help to reduce overall power consumption and enable closer stacking of optical interfaces.

"This will enable the development of processes and materials that will help drive increases in speed, temperature performance and tenability," commented Ian Lealman of CIP.

CIP has been part of the development of photonics for over 30 years and is considered one of the leading suppliers of advanced photonic components.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd