ABSTRACT
Optics and photonics have expanded their application fields as found in optical communication and switching systems, optical interconnects, and nano-bio-medical technologies. The principal application of Self-Organized Lightwave Networks (SOLNETs) is the optical solder for the self-aligned optical couplings in advanced optoelectronic (OE) systems such as optical interconnects within computers and optical switching systems. The optical solder of the SOLNET is expected to provide a solution for the optical coupling issue. It will reduce the efforts to implement lightwaves into the advanced OE systems, contributing to reductions of the system cost and energy dissipation. SOLNETs are expected to be applied not only to the advanced OE systems but also to any fields where lightwaves are utilized, such as solar energy conversion systems, cancer therapy, and so on. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
