An optical backplane based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) for onboard data and signal handling is introduced. It is a tunable transmitter fixed receiver architecture incorporating an NxN Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) element for passive data routing between the nodes. In conjunction with star couplers both unicast and multicast capabilities are offered. The control plane has been implemented on a high-speed FPGA and a four-node demonstrator has been built. Bit-Error-Rate (BER) versus power incident on the receiver, employing three different AWGs, has been measured at a data rate of 10Gbps per link. A total switching time of 500ns has been achieved, leading to more than 95% efficiency with packet lengths greater than 10KBytes.
This paper outlines the development of a prototype optical burst mode switching network based upon a star topology, the ultimate application of which could be as a transparent payload processor onboard satellite repeaters. The network architecture incorporates multiple tunable laser sources, burst mode receivers and a passive optical router (Arrayed Waveguide Grating). Each tunable optical signal should carry ≥10Gbps and be capable of wavelength switching in c. 5ns timescales. Two monolithic tunable laser types, based upon different technologies, will be utilised: a Slotted Fabry Perot laser (a Fabry Perot laser with slots added in order to introduce controlled cavity perturbations); and a Modulated Grating Y-Branch Laser (MGY: a widely tunable, multi-section device similar to the DBR laser). While the Slotted Fabry Perot laser is expected to achieve the required switching times, it is an immature technology not yet capable of achieving tunability over 80 ITU channels from a single chip. The MGY device is a more mature technology and has full C-band ITU channel coverage, but is not capable of the required short switching times. Hence, in order to facilitate the integration of this more mature technology into the prototype breadboard with the requisite switching time capabilities, a system of ‘dual laser’ transmitters is being developed to enable data transmission from one MGY laser while the other switches and vice-versa. This work is being performed under ESA contract AO 1-5025/06/NL/PM, Optical Technologies for Ultra - fast Processing.
A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-based optical backplane architecture is introduced. It is a tunable transmitter fixed receiver (TT-FR) architecture incorporating an N×N arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) element for passive data routing between the nodes, which in conjunction with star couplers, offers both unicast and multicast capabilities. The data and control plane of the network are implemented on a high-speed field programmable gate array (FPGA), and a four-node demonstrator is built up. Three different types of AWG routing elements implemented in different technologies are employed, and bit error rate (BER) versus incident power on the receiver measurements are presented for a data rate of 10 Gbps per link. A total switching time as low as 500 ns is achieved, permitting packet switching operation with more than 95% efficiency when the packet length is greater than 10 kbytes.
Widely tunable lasers support certain characteristics which out perform DFB technology for the sensing of gas species in the NIR spectral region. Reduced frequency tuning variation and almost zero residual amplitude modulation (RAM) are investigated. The current report illustrates how 18 individual gas absorption lines can be interrogated using a single laser source over a 40nm wavelength range, where RAM and FM non-linearity never exceed 5% and 13 % respectively. Comparison with DFB technology is made.
Widely tunable lasers are generally considered as the transmitters of future WDM optical communications. Electronically tunable edge-emitting laser diodes are of particular interest as they can switch the wavelength in tens of nanoseconds and thus offer great potential for new networking concepts such as optical packet or burst switching, label switching, bandwidth on demand, ... In this paper we discuss new concepts for such widely tunable laser diodes which are studied in the framework of the European IST project NEWTON (NEw Widely Tunable laser diodes for Optical Networks).
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