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Materials

Dow Corning And IBM Pursue Photonics

by Michael McCoy
February 11, 2013 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 91, Issue 6

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Credit: IBM Research
A prototype waveguide made of the new material.
A silicone-based polymer developed by scientists at Dow Corning and IBM can be used to fabricate waveguides (shown) that route optical signals from a computer’s processor to its printed circuit board.
Credit: IBM Research
A prototype waveguide made of the new material.

Scientists from Dow Corning and IBM have developed a silicone-based polymer they expect will usher photonics into the computing world. The polymer can be used to fabricate waveguides that route optical signals from a computer’s processor to its printed circuit board. Optical signaling offers speed and power advantages over today’s electrical signaling, the companies say. “We are confident that silicone-based board-level interconnects will quickly supersede conventional electronic signal distribution,” says Eric Peeters, vice president of Dow Corning’s electronics business.

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