Tark Thermal Solutions (formerly Laird Thermal Systems), the global manufacturer of thermal management solutions has introduced new custom options in the Series of OptoTEC MBX thermoelectric coolers (TECs), designed to address emerging thermal challenges in ultra-high-speed optical transceivers driving the next wave of AI-powered data centres.
As hyperscale data centres and AI clusters deploy increasingly larger models and interconnect more servers, the bandwidth required between compute and storage nodes is pushing transmission speeds from 800Gbps, to 1.6Tbps per link. These higher-speed links produce more heat in smaller spaces and are requiring increasingly compact, efficient, and reliable thermal management to stabilise sensitive laser temperatures, mitigate crosstalk, and preserve signal integrity over long-haul and multi-wavelength links. Effective miniaturised thermal management is crucial to preventing signal degradation, maintaining laser wavelength stability and ensuring reliability.
The OptoTEC MBX Series of micro thermoelectric coolers maintain tight temperature control while fitting within the space constraints of cutting-edge optical pluggables.
- Precision cooling: new thermoelectric materials and high-precision manufacturing deliver rapid thermal response for ultra-compact optical pluggables, including 800G, 1.6T, and anticipated 3.2T modules
- Micro footprint: OptoTEC MBX TECs feature footprints as small as 1.5mm x 1.1mm and thicknesses down to 0.65mm, integrating seamlessly into advanced transceiver designs with minimal space and weight penalty
- Optimised for performance: OptoTEC MBX achieves heat pumping densities up to 43 W/cm² at a lower operating current than traditional thermoelectric coolers, reducing total power draw for dense data centre deployments
As hyperscale applications push optical links to new performance heights, the MBX Series ensures that innovation in transceiver speed is matched by innovation in miniaturised, cost-effective, and highly reliable thermal control.
