LightPort Set-up Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) are widely regarded as a fundamental technology for future developments in communications and potential in sensing and quantum systems. While many of us in the photonics community understand what PICs are and how they operate, a different question is: Have you ever actually worked with one? For over 20 years — since my PhD — I have been familiar with photonic integrated circuits. I understood their core components, function

A short guideline on when to consider switching to photonic integration from bulk optics.