The development of integrated silicon photonic circuits has recently been driven by the Internet and the push for high bandwidth as well as the need to reduce power dissipation induced by high data-rate signal transmission. To reach these goals, efficient passive and active silicon photonic devices, including waveguide, modulators, photodetectors, multiplexers, light sources, and various subsystems, have been developed that take advantage of state-of-the-art silicon technology.

Suitable for both specialists and newcomers, Handbook of Silicon Photonics presents a coherent and comprehensive overview of this field from the fundamentals to integrated systems and applications. It covers a broad spectrum of materials and applications, emphasizing passive and active photonic devices, fabrication, integration, and the convergence with CMOS technology. The book's self-contained chapters are written by international experts from academia and various photonics-related industries.

The handbook starts with the basics of silicon as an optical material. It then describes the building blocks needed to drive integrated silicon photonic circuits and explains how these building blocks are incorporated in complex photonic/electronic circuits. The book also presents applications of silicon photonics in numerous fields, including biophotonics and photovoltaics.

With many illustrations, including some in color, this handbook provides an up-to-date reference to the broad and rapidly changing area of silicon photonics. It shows how basic science and innovative technological applications are pushing the field forward.