Core Insights - The 2025 Frontier Interdisciplinary Science Conference on Optical Engineering opened in Jinhua, Zhejiang, focusing on five cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields: new materials, aerospace technology, green energy, brain-machine interaction, and quantum computing [1] - The conference aims to enhance the capabilities of optical engineering and interdisciplinary fields in serving technological frontiers, accelerating technological progress and discipline integration in China's optical engineering sector [1] Group 1 - The conference theme is "Intersection, Integration, Innovation, Development," reflecting the ongoing global technological revolution and industrial transformation [1] - A total of 210 experts were invited to give keynote speeches, and 204 specialized sub-forums featured outstanding young and middle-aged leaders from various fields [2] Group 2 - The conference also included local industry technology demand matching, technology achievement transfer projects, high-level talent recruitment fairs, and site visits [2] - Over 140 companies participated in the talent recruitment section, with 287 job openings announced by 19 hiring units, including Jinhua Vocational and Technical University and Zhejiang Optoelectronic Research Institute [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the rapid development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their scalability, predicting that the number of actuators in PICs will increase from hundreds to 100,000 within six years [2][6][13] - It emphasizes the complementary nature of photonics to electronics, software, and the need for collaboration among these technologies to enhance market penetration and industry impact [4][37] Group 1: Photonic Integrated Circuits Development - Over the past two decades, the scalability of PICs has been advancing rapidly, with a doubling of performance and capabilities approximately every two years [2][13] - The article outlines the transition from circuits with hundreds of actuators to those accommodating up to 100,000 actuators by around 2032 [6][13] - Key challenges in the development of photonic technology include chip coupling, propagation losses, and the need for precise temperature control as actuator density increases [20][22] Group 2: Applications and Market Demand - The integration of photonics is particularly beneficial for high-bandwidth applications such as 5G/6G communications, IoT, and AI, which require enhanced signal processing capabilities [3][26] - Photonic processors are expected to play a crucial role in data centers and AI infrastructure, addressing the growing demand for bandwidth and processing speed [30][37] - The article highlights the potential of photonic technology in optical interconnects and as a solution for the challenges faced by traditional electronic systems [30][31] Group 3: Challenges and Limitations - The article identifies several challenges that must be addressed to keep pace with the advancements in photonics, including optical losses and the need for improved manufacturing processes [20][21] - It discusses the limitations of current photonic hardware in terms of integration density and performance compared to electronic solutions, particularly in computing applications [34][35] - The need for dynamic control and monitoring of circuits with increasing complexity is emphasized as a critical challenge for future developments [25][26]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the achievements of Li Wei, a young researcher at the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, emphasizing the importance of core technology development and the contributions of young scientists to national scientific advancement [1][3]. Group 1: Achievements and Contributions - Li Wei has made significant breakthroughs in the field of photonics, particularly in thermal radiation control and information perception, with results published in prestigious journals such as Nature and Science in 2024 [2][3]. - The research team led by Li Wei has developed high-performance photonic and thermal radiation devices that address critical challenges in aerospace applications, enhancing thermal management technology [3][4]. Group 2: Team Building and Collaboration - Li Wei has focused on nurturing talent by establishing the Jilin Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Key Laboratory, recruiting skilled individuals from top universities worldwide [4]. - The team comprises a diverse group of national and international talents, fostering long-term collaborations with leading research institutions and scholars [4].

Core Viewpoint - Photonics is becoming increasingly essential in accelerating artificial intelligence in data centers, with over 60% of the optical components market now driven by AI data communication [2][37]. Group 1: Market Overview - The global optical components market reached $17 billion last year, historically dominated by the telecom sector, but now significantly influenced by AI-driven data centers [2][4]. - Major suppliers in the optical components market include Coherent and Aisino Technology, each holding a 20% market share, followed by Broadcom with 10% [4]. Group 2: AI and Data Center Growth - Large Language Models (LLMs) are driving exponential growth in AI workloads, necessitating vast XPU clusters and high-bandwidth, low-latency network solutions [5][6]. - Network costs in data centers are projected to rise from 5%-10% of capital expenditures to 15%-20% by 2030 [5]. Group 3: Network Architecture - Two primary types of interconnects in AI data centers are horizontal scaling (fiber links connecting switches across racks) and vertical scaling (electrical links connecting GPUs within racks) [7][10]. - The transition from copper to photonics in vertical scaling networks is ongoing but not yet complete [12]. Group 4: Power and Efficiency - The shift to higher data rates in horizontal scaling networks is leading to increased power consumption, with Nvidia reporting a reduction in power from 30W to 9W when transitioning from pluggable optical modules to Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) [18]. - CPO technology can significantly enhance GPU density, potentially increasing the number of GPUs by up to three times within the same power budget [18]. Group 5: Reliability and Challenges - Reliability is a critical factor in the transition from copper to fiber optics, with a low failure rate essential for handling the vast amounts of data generated in AI data centers [21]. - Nvidia's roadmap indicates that while current solutions use copper, the increasing data rates and signal integrity issues will necessitate a shift to fiber optics [26]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The market for CPO is expected to grow from zero to $5 billion by 2030, with early entrants like Broadcom, Marvell, and Ayar Labs poised to benefit [33]. - By the mid-2030s, all interconnects are anticipated to be optical, utilizing CPO technology [37].