Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of an integrated photonics platform that replaces hundreds of discrete lasers with a single multi-wavelength comb laser source for use in the scalability of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 1, 2026
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Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of an integrated photonics platform that replaces hundreds of discrete lasers with a single multi-wavelength comb laser source for use in the scalability of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Specifically, the project team will (1) test and validate a first generation of comb laser design to meet performance metrics, (2) refine, develop, test, and validate a second generation comb laser design to meet performance metrics, (3) procure platform components, test and validate operation for durability and performance, (4) design and assemble components into full integrated system, (5) test and validate final system to meet performance metrics, and (6) conduct a techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for next phase development. If successful, this project will result in a laser-based photonics platform that achieves an order-of-magnitude improvement in throughput per device and leverages existing commercial semiconductor foundries for immediate production, enabling massive bandwidth scaling while minimizing energy consumption and cost, ultimately reducing dependence on foreign energy, thereby increasing U.S. energy security, and strengthening domestic high-tech manufacturing.