AOI Launches 400mW Laser to Power Silicon Photonics and Co-Packaged Optics December 18, 2025 As artificial intelligence workloads push data center infrastructure to its limits, the demand for faster, denser, and more energy-efficient optical interconnects has become critical. The shift towards silicon photonics and co-packaged optics (CPO) architectures is central to meeting this demand, requiring advanced laser sources that can deliver unprecedented power and stability within the thermal constraints of AI hardware. Addressing this need, Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (NASDAQ: AAOI), a leading provider of optical networking components, announced today the launch of a new 400-milliwatt narrow-linewidth pump laser. Developed over several years, the laser is specifically engineered to overcome performance limitations posed by existing broader-linewidth or higher-noise alternatives in advanced chip-scale systems. The new laser, built on AOI's mature buried heterostructure platform for reliability, delivers over 400mW of optical power at 50°C with a narrow linewidth. It is designed to source light directly into semiconductor systems, providing hyperscale data center operators with a robust light source for CPO and silicon photonics applications. A company statement highlighted that the component is key to "closing the power budget for 800G and 1.6T interconnects" by delivering enough optical power to overcome signal losses without exceeding thermal limits near AI switch ASICs. Furthermore, the laser enables shared and external laser architectures, where a single centralized source can reliably feed multiple silicon photonic lanes. This capability stabilizes devices by minimizing wavelength drift and noise in critical components like ring modulators, which in turn improves system yield and uptime by simplifying calibration and ensuring consistent performance at scale. Samples of the 400mW laser are now available to select customers, with volume production expected to commence later in 2026. This development marks a significant step in supplying the foundational photonic components needed to support the ongoing AI-driven expansion and technological evolution within global data centers. Source: lightreading
Applied Optoelectronics Unveils High-Power Laser for Next-Generation AI Data Centers
