Indium Phosphide (InP)

High-speed binary semiconductor used in fiber-optic transceivers.

Core Principles & Analysis

• InP lasers and photodetectors dominate long-haul telecommunications because they operate at the low-loss 1,310 and 1,550 nm fiber windows.
• InP transistor amplifiers were the first to break the 1 THz barrier, setting a Guinness World Record in 2014.
• InP photonic integrated circuits combine lasers, modulators, and detectors on a single chip for fiber-optic transceivers.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 4.81 g/cm³
• YIELD STRENGTH: N/A (brittle)
• HARDNESS: 430 HK