Optical Wavelength Switching Research Articles

Low-latency wavelength-switched clock-synchronized intra-data center interconnects enabled by hollow core fiber.

Fast (nanoseconds) optical wavelength switching is emerging as a viable solution to scaling the size and capacity of intra-data center interconnection. A key enabling technology for such systems is low-jitter optical clock synchronization, which enables sub-nanosecond clock and data recovery for optically switched frames using low-cost methods such as clock phase caching. We propose and demonstrate real-time low-latency wavelength-switched clock-synchronized intra-data center interconnection at 51.2 GBd using a fast tunable laser (with ns scale switching time) and ultra-stable-latency hollow core fiber (HCF) for optically-switched data center networks. For wavelength-switched systems, we achieve a physical layer latency below 46 ns, consisting of 28 ns transceiver latency and a 18 ns inter-packet gap. Finally, we show that by exploiting the low chromatic dispersion and thermally-stable latency features of HCF, active clock phase tracking can be entirely eliminated.

Real-time 850 nm multimode VCSEL to 1 550 nm single mode VCSEL data routing for optical interconnects

Short-reach optical interconnects among massive serves in data centers have attracted extensive research recently. Increasing capacity, cost and power efficiency as well as wavelength switching between data center network nodes are still key challenges for current optical interconnects. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the real-time inter-mode optical wavelength switching technique, for high-speed wavelength flexible data center interconnects. A 10 Gbit/s 1 550 nm single mode vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is optically injected and used to control a 10 Gbit/s multimode VCSEL carrier at 850 nm. Results show that a clearly open eye diagram is achieved at back-to-back analysis, implying a successful wavelength switch and error-free operation at 10 Gbit/s. A fully optical wavelength conversion of a multimode VCSEL operation at 850 nm using a single mode VCSEL subject to external optical injection at 1 550 nm is reported. This work opens new perspectives towards the development of a cost effective high-speed real-time inter-band wavelength switching technique between servers and network devices operating at different transmission windows at network nodes, for current and future optical interconnects.

Implementation of wavelength selector based on electro-optic effect in Mach–Zehnder interferometers for high speed communications

The design of 4×1 and 8×1 wavelength selectors have been presented with complete functionality and configuration, which can be used as DWDM components in optical networks. The proposed optical logic unit is based on electro-optic effect in Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structures collectively show the powerful capability in switching an input optical signal to a desired output port from a collection of output ports. A strategy for optical wavelength switching has been shown by constructing a design of wavelength selector using MZIs. The paper constitutes the mathematical description of proposed device and thereafter the wavelength switching behavior is analyzed using beam propagation method (BPM). The results are also verified with the help of MATLAB simulations and truth table.

Performance analysis of optical wavelength switching network using multiple output light source

In this paper a 32×32 optical wavelength switching network using the multi-channel and multi-wavelength spectrum-sliced light source is presented where the 2×2 optical-switching elements are utilized in dilated Benes and modified dilated Benes configurations, respectively. The system performances in bit-error rate, especially for the effects of intraband crosstalk, are analyzed in details for the two type networks. Through the simulation studies, the dilated Benes shows better performances than the modified dilated Benes configuration.

Impairment-aware ordered scheduling in dual-header optical burst switched networks

Optical burst switching (OBS) is a promising technology for bridging the gap between optical wavelength switching and optical packet switching. Optical signal transmission quality is subject to various types of physical impairment introduced by optical fibers, switching elements, or other network components. The signal degradation due to physical impairment may be significant enough such that the bit-error rate of received signals is unacceptably high at the destination, rendering the signal to not usable. In this article, based on earlier study, we study the burst-scheduling problem in OBS networks using two control packets for each data burst, taking into account physical impairment effects. We propose a burst-scheduling algorithm that accommodates incoming bursts by primary path routing, deflection routing, and burst scheduling. We design an admission control mechanism to use network resources efficiently. At an OBS node, the proposed algorithm schedules bursts for transmission by searching for available resources as well as verifying signal quality. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is effective in terms of reducing the burst-blocking probability.

Physical impairment aware scheduling in optical burst switched networks

Optical burst switching (OBS) presents itself as a promising technology for bridging the gap between optical wavelength switching and optical packet switching. Increasingly, researchers attempt to incorporate more realistic constraints into the design of OBS networks. Optical signal transmission quality is subject to various types of physical impairment introduced by optical fibers, switching equipment, or other network components. The signal degradation due to physical impairments may be significant enough such that the bit-error rate of received signals is unacceptably high at the destination, rendering the signal not usable. In this paper, based on earlier work, we study the burst scheduling problem in OBS networks, taking into account physical impairment effects. We propose three effective burst scheduling algorithms: (1) a JET based Physical Impairment Constrained Algorithm (JETPIC), (2) an Integrated Physical Impairment Constrained Algorithm (IPIC), and (3) an Enhanced Integrated Physical Impairment Constrained Algorithm (EIPIC). At an OBS node, the proposed algorithms schedule bursts for transmission by searching for available resources as well as verifying signal quality. Our simulation results show that the proposed algorithms are effective in terms of reducing the burst blocking probability. In general, algorithm JETPIC outperforms algorithms IPIC and EIPIC in burst blocking probability and average end-to-end delay performance.

Multigranular optical router for future networks [Invited

The future optical network needs to offer dynamic bandwidth allocation with the ability to adapt to application bandwidth requirements by providing transport granularity at the appropriate bit rate. A key element in such a network is a high-speed multigranular optical router that is able to support wavelength and subwavelength switching. This paper proposes advanced switching and router technologies suitable for such a network. A generic architecture for a multigranular optical switch comprising optical wavelength switching, optical time division multiplexing, optical packet switchng, and optical burst switching is proposed followed by specific designs for each part of the multigranular switch. This includes a design for an optical time-slot switch followed by a design for optical-packet- and burst-switched core and edge routers. Finally, an example is provided to show how these technologies can be combined to provide connectivity for applications with different bandwidth granularities.

Broadband return-to-zero wavelength conversion and signal regeneration using a monolithically integrated, photocurrent-driven wavelength converter

Introduction: Dynamic wavelength switching and signal regeneration are critical functions to enhance the performance of next generation networks. Of particular importance is a monolithically integrated device that can perform these functions, including signal reamplification, reshaping, retiming (3R) and wavelength conversion with a small form factor. Such a device has the potential for low packaging costs and low coupling losses between discrete components. Several approaches have been explored for simultaneous wavelength switching and signal regeneration. These include interferometric optical amplifiers, nonlinear fibres, and a variety of electroabsorption modulator (EAM) approaches [1‐3]. However, these approaches generally have high loss between components, high power dissipation, or need optical filtering to separate input and regenerated signals. Recently we have demonstrated a small form factor monolithically integrated PD-WC [4]. The high degree of integration allows for low coupling losses, and the separation of input and output signals enables full wavelength transparency without output signal filtering. In this Letter we present optical wavelength switching and 3R regeneration using the PD-WC. The device employs a tandem modulator clock recovery technique [5] to regenerate the degraded optical signals.

Overspill routing in optical networks: a true hybrid optical network design

To efficiently support the highly dynamic traffic patterns of the current Internet in large-scale switches, we propose a new hybrid optical network design: Overspill Routing In Optical Networks (ORION). By taking advantage of the reduced (electronic) processing requirements of all-optical wavelength switching, the electronic bottleneck is relieved. At the same time, ORION achieves a level of statistical multiplexing comparable to the more traditional point to point WDM solutions, circumventing the bandwidth inefficiencies of all-optical wavelength switched networks, caused by dynamic traffic patterns. The result is a true hybrid optical network design, forming a bridge between these two switching concepts. In this paper the generic concept of ORION is described. An example node design, based on current advanced optical technologies, is described in detail. The ORION concept is also evaluated, comparing it with its two composing technologies, optical wavelength switching and point to point WDM, as well as a third, more trivial, hybrid one, through several case studies

High-Performance Hybrid-Switching Optical Router for IP over WDM Integration

Because pure electrical routers with their bandwidth limitations can hardly keep up with the tremendous traffic growth in the Internet, optical routers based on various optical switching techniques including optical wavelength switching (OWS), optical burst switching (OBS), and optical packet switching (OPS) have been suggested to cope with this problem. However, because OBS and OPS are both in their early experimental phase and OWS only provides coarse granularity switching, a hybrid-switching optical router with combined OWS and electrical packet switching is a necessity in order to accommodate the entire multi-granularity traffic with multi-service requirements in a cost-effective manner. Its coordination capability of optical circuit switching and electrical packet switching enables efficient/intelligent usage of network resources. In this paper, we first review research and developments of such IP routers employing optical switching/interconnection techniques and examine how these techniques can be used inside routers to scale node capacity and to improve optical Internet performance. We also present and study the performance of a terabit optical router with an optical-electrical hybrid-switching fabric. The node architecture is based on the idea of IP over WDM integration with Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS). The network-level performance evaluations show that the proposed hybrid-switching optical router is a cost-effective solution for building the next generation GMPLS-based multi-granularity optical Internet.

Modification of Photon States in Photonic Molecules with Semiconductor Nanocrystals

We report on the coherent coupling of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in a photonic molecule formed from two melamine formaldehyde spherical microcavities coated with a thin shell of CdTe nanocrystals. Utilizing different excitation conditions, the splitting of the WGM resonances originating from bonding and antibonding branches of the photonic states is observed and a fine structure consisting of very sharp peaks resulting from lifting of the WGM degeneracy has been detected. Observation of optical wavelength switching with controllable spectral position and separation is reported.

Experimental 5-Tb/s packet-by-packet wavelength switching system using 2.5-Gb/s × 8-λ WDM links

SUMMARY We have developed an experimental 5-Tb/s packet-by-packet wavelength switching system, OPTIMA-2. This paper describes its hardware architecture. OPTIMA-2 is a non-blocking 3-stage switch using optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) links and dynamic bandwidth-sharing. A new scheduling algorithm for variable-length packets is used for the receiver ports of WDM links and simulation results show that it can suppress short-packet delay while keeping high throughput. An implementation of the WDM link using field programable gate arrays and a compact planar lightwave circuit platform is described. Experimental results for the basic operation of optical wavelength switching are also presented.