The Photonics Systems Lab at UC San Diego’s Qualcomm Institute in Atkinson Hall is a one-of-a-kind facility designed for groundbreaking research in high-speed transmission experiments and photonics-based signal processing. Modeled after the renowned industrial research labs at Bell Labs and Corning Research, this 2,000-square-foot, telecom-class space brings together multicasting, synchronization, sampling, and system integration in a single environment.
Beyond research, the lab serves as a recharge facility, enabling both university researchers and external users—particularly startups—to access its advanced infrastructure for their projects. It supports state-of-the-art testing and design of photonic chips and photonic integrated circuits (PLCs) for silicon photonics and more exotic materials. The lab specializes in rigorous testing for high-speed data modulation, covering both coherent and non-coherent modulation techniques.
Over the years, the lab has played a pivotal role in advancing optical communication, setting multiple records in transmission capacity, reach and photonics-aided signal processing. Researchers in the lab continue to explore nonlinear fiber optics, parametric amplifiers, quantum communications and all-optical signal processing techniques, pushing the boundaries of speed, fidelity and energy efficiency in modern telecommunications.