Coherent (NYSE: COHR) just rolled out its new 2D VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) and photodiode arrays. They’re designed specifically for optical interconnects in AI-powered data centers.
This tech aims to shake up high-performance computing. It brings huge throughput, better power efficiency, and lower latency—basically, all the stuff AI and machine learning workloads keep demanding.
Revolutionizing AI Data Center Connectivity
The big deal here is Coherent’s high-density 2D array architecture. It can hit 1.6 terabits per second throughput at 850 nm.
We’re talking about 32 lanes of 50G NRZ signals, which makes for fast, reliable data transfers across short-reach interconnections.
Built on Proven Optical Foundations
This new solution comes from Coherent’s established 100G PAM4 multimode platform, which already has a solid reputation in the industry.
The arrays are dialed in for “slow and wide” data transfer—ideal for those short-reach links you see inside hyperscale data centers.
Addressing Copper Link Limitations
Honestly, traditional copper links just can’t keep up with the bandwidth and thermal needs of large-scale AI networks anymore.
That leads to inefficiencies and annoying performance bottlenecks that nobody wants to deal with.
The Advantages of Optical Interconnects
By swapping out copper for advanced optical solutions, Coherent’s arrays bring a few big benefits:
- Higher power efficiency – They use less energy but keep the performance up.
- Minimized latency – Communication paths for AI workloads get a whole lot faster.
- Improved cost-effectiveness – Operational costs drop over the system’s life.
For hyperscale facilities running AI and ML models, optical interconnects really do seem like the way to go.
Enabling Massive Parallelism for AI Training
Modern AI workloads depend on spreading data across lots of interconnected computational nodes.
Coherent’s arrays help boost parallel processing, letting machine learning models train faster and with more efficiency.
Scalability for Future Networks
Datasets are only getting bigger and more complex, so the need for high-speed, low-power interconnects keeps growing.
Coherent’s solution handles today’s demands and sets data centers up for smooth upgrades down the road.
Looking Ahead: 1060 nm Flip-Chip Variants
By 2026, Coherent plans to add 1060 nm backside-emitting flip-chip VCSEL/PD array variants to its lineup.
This move should help bring in advanced architectures like Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) and Co-Packaged Optics (CPO).
Next-Generation Data Center Architectures
NPO and CPO could totally change how data centers work. They bring optics closer to the processing units to boost performance and cut energy loss.
Coherent’s roadmap seems to fit right in with where the industry’s heading.
Showcasing the Technology at ECOC 2025
The ECOC 2025 conference in Copenhagen will be the place where Coherent shows off this new tech to the world.
Industry folks can check out how these optical solutions might finally replace copper links and keep up with AI’s crazy bandwidth needs.
A Critical Enabler for AI Growth
Coherent’s new optical interconnect arrays knock down performance bottlenecks and boost energy efficiency. These arrays are shaping up to be a key part of scaling AI computing infrastructure.
AI models keep getting bigger and more complex. We need breakthroughs like this to keep growing without tossing sustainability out the window.
I’ve spent 30 years working with optical tech, and honestly, Coherent’s 2D VCSEL arrays feel like a real turning point for data centers. They tackle today’s connectivity headaches and set the stage for AI systems to run at wild new speeds and sizes.
That’s the kind of leap we need as the world leans into next-gen computing. Who knows where this will take us?
Here is the source article for this story: 1.6 Terabit Optical Arrays: Coherent’s New Tech Promises to Revolutionize AI Data Center Networks