The aim of the contributions in this volume is to give a current overview on the basic properties and applications of semiconductor and nonlinear optical materials for optoelectronics and integrated optics. They provide a cross-linkage between different materials (III-V, II-VI, Si-Ge, glasses, etc.), various sample dimensions (from bulk crystals to quantum dots), and a range of techniques for growth (LPE to MOMBE) and for processing (from surface passivation to ion beams). Major growth techniques and materials are discussed, including the sophisticated technologies required to exploit the exciting properties of low dimensional semiconductors. These proceedings will prove an invaluable guide to the current state of optoelectronic and nonlinear optical materials development, as well as indicating trends and also future markets for optoelectronic devices.

These three day symposia were designed to provide a link between specialists from university or industry who work in different fields of semiconductor optoelectronics. Symposium A dealt with topics including: epitaxial growth of III-V, II-VI, IV-VI, Si-based structures; selective-area, localized and non-planar epitaxy, shadow-mask epitaxy; bulk and new optoelectronic materials; polymers for optoelectronics. Symposium B dealt with III-V epitaxial layers grown by low temperature molecular beam epitaxy, a subject which has undergone rapid development in the last three years.

This volume is a monograph on parallel optical interconnects. It presents not only the state of-the-art in this domain but also the necessary physical and chemical background. It also provides a discussion of the potential for future devices. Both experts and newcomers to the area will appreciate the authors' proficiency in providing the complete picture of this rapidly growing field. Optical interconnects are already established in telecommunications and should eventually find their way being applied to chip and even gate level connections in integrated systems. The inspiring environment of the Basic Research Working Group on Optical Information Technology WOIT (3199), together with the excellent and complementary skills of its participants, make this contribution highly worthwhile. G. Metakides Table of contents 1 Perspectives for parallel optical interconnects: introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l Pierre Chavel and Philippe lAlanne 1. 1 Optical Interconnects and ESPRIT BRA WOIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. 2 What are optical interconnects? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1. 3 Optical interconnects: how ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1. 3. 1 Passive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1. 3. 2 Active devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1. 3. 3 Schemes for parallel optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. 3. 4 Limits of optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. 4 Optical interconnects: why ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Acknowledgetnents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 First Section: Components Part 1. 1 Passive interconnect components 2 Free space interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Philippe Lalanne and Pierre ChaveZ 2. 1 Introduction: 3D optical interconnects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2. 2 Optical free space channels and their implementations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. 2. 1 Diffraction and degrees of freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2. 2. 2 Two Qasic interconnect setups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

These proceedings represent the most recent progress in the field of porous silicon. Several papers present results in which the influence of the formation parameters on the structural and optical properties has been investigated. Further topics dealt with include: the influence of light during the formation process on the photoluminescence behaviour; fundamental mechanism of the photoluminescence; the electroluminescence of porous silicon; applications based on porous silicon; charge carrier transport.

Containing the proceedings of three symposia in the E-MRS series this book is divided into two parts. Part one is concerned with ion beam processing, a particularly powerful and versatile technology which can be used both to synthesise and modify materials, including metals, semiconductors, ceramics and dielectrics, with great precision and excellent control. Furthermore it also deals with the correlated effects in atomic and cluster ion bombardment and implantation.Part two deals with the deposition techniques, characterization and applications of advanced ceramic, metallic and polymeric coatings or thin films for surface protection against corrosion, erosion, abrasion, diffusion and for lubrication of contracting surfaces in relative motion.

This book contains the proceedings of the largest conference ever held on this subject. The strong interest in this field is largely due to the fact that both fundamental aspects of laser-surface interaction as well as applied techniques for thin film generation and patterning were treated in detail by experts from around the world.