Mar 26 2008
Lightwave Logic, a technology company focused on the development of electro-optic polymer chips for applications in high-speed fiber-optic telecommunications and optical computing, has commenced production of its first prototype photonic chip.
Photonic (electro-optic) devices are the backbone of the Internet and telephone networks. The production of polymer-based photonic switches has been the fabled “holy grail” of the industry for over two decades. Plastics are less expensive, easier to process, and have been demonstrated to transmit information at higher speeds than the current state-of-the-art.
“The industry has been waiting for a commercially viable electro-optic polymer for more than two decades; many companies have made claims and have not been able to deliver,” said Hal Bennett, CEO of Lightwave Logic. “We are very excited. This is the final step in the development process. The marriage of the chromophore and the spacer system is now complete and the combined material has been delivered to our partner, Photon-X, who will fabricate a prototype polymer optical modulator and measure its technical properties. We are still on schedule to demonstrate this prototype early next quarter. It is this demonstration that will move us into the commercialization phase and to the next stage in conversations with potential customers and partners. Potential customers have told me in no uncertain terms that they are very excited about our polymer, and eagerly anticipate our demonstration.”