As global demand for computing, connectivity, and data transfer continues to accelerate, advances in photonics and electronics are essential to enabling faster, more energy-efficient information technologies. Researchers at the Institute for Energy Efficiency are developing next-generation electronic and photonic systems that reduce the energy required to process, transmit, and manage data across computing and communication platforms.
This research theme focuses on integrated photonic and electronic technologies that improve performance while minimizing power consumption, size, and system complexity. As traditional copper interconnects increasingly limit computing performance and contribute significantly to system power consumption and heat generation, faculty researchers are advancing silicon photonics, microLED technologies, and optical interconnects that transmit information more efficiently than conventional electrical wiring. These innovations enable higher bandwidth, lower latency, and reduced energy consumption across data centers, communications networks, and advanced computing systems. Researchers are also developing high-capacity photonic integrated circuits (PICs), hybrid silicon photonics platforms, and optical networking technologies capable of supporting data communication rates from terabit- to multi-terabit-scale systems. Building on decades of leadership in silicon photonics, UCSB-developed technologies have helped shape commercially deployed optical interconnect solutions used throughout the global communications industry.
Additional efforts include the development of quantum dot lasers, nonlinear photonic devices, and integrated light sources that enable applications in high-speed communications, quantum information technologies, and advanced sensing. In parallel, the initiative advances energy-efficient electronic materials and device architectures, including high-performance transistors and wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies that operate at higher voltages, frequencies, and efficiencies than conventional silicon electronics. Together, these innovations are enabling more energy-efficient computing, communications, transportation, and quantum technologies while laying the foundation for the next generation of scalable information infrastructure.
Lead Faculty
Steven DenBaars: IEE Director, Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Professor DenBaars is a longstanding member of IEE, and since 2005 has served as IEE Thrust Leader for Display Solutions Group. He is our Mitsubishi Distinguished Professor, with faculty appointments in Materials and Electrical & Computer Engineering, and is the Executive Director of our Solid State Lighting and Energy Electronics Center. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the National Academy of Investors, with more than 1,400 publications and over 153 patents filled. DenBaars has a deep commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. Drawing on his experience in solid-state materials for lighting, displays, and power electronics, he is eager to contribute to IEE's mission of driving innovation in energy efficiency.
John Bowers: Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
John Bowers is interested in energy efficiency and the development of novel low power optoelectronic devices for the next generation of optical networks. His research interests include silicon photonics and integrated circuits, fiber optic networks, thermoelectrics, high efficiency solar cells, and optical switching. Optical switches have the potential to reduce the energy required to switch data by factor of 10,000. Silicon photonics have the potential to reduce the energy require to transmit data on and off chips by a factor of ten or more. A recent collaboration with Intel led to the development of hybrid silicon lasers, which led to a prototype 50 Gbps high-speed optical data link, which is integrated onto silicon.
