Lightmatter Guide — Very Large Scale Photonic Light Engine for AI Optical Networks

Specifications

Overview

Lightmatter Guide is a very large scale photonic (VLSP) light engine: the light source layer for optical interconnects and co-packaged optics in AI-scale networks. It delivers 100 mW or more of optical output per fibre, with channel spacing options of 100, 200 and 400+ GHz and a product roadmap reaching 64 wavelengths.

The engineering problem Guide addresses is density. As aggregate switch bandwidth doubles every generation, relying on discrete pluggable laser modules creates an untenable faceplate area and thermal burden. Guide integrates the light engine so that 16 or more colours can be tuned independently on a single photonic integrated circuit without disturbing adjacent channels. The family ships as Guide, Guide 1 and Guide DR, with the Guide 1 EVK available as a reference system.

Key Benefits

High optical output. 100 mW+ per fibre provides the launch power AI-scale optical networks require. Wavelength density. A roadmap to 64 wavelengths with 100 / 200 / 400+ GHz spacing. Independent channel tuning. 16+ colours tuned on one PIC with no adjacent-channel impact. Faceplate relief. Integrated light engines replace discrete pluggable laser modules in co-packaged systems.

Applications

Co-packaged optics light sourcing, AI datacenter switch interconnect, optical XPU fabrics, dense wavelength-division multiplexing systems, and external laser source integration for CPO platforms.

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