Optical Networking Research Research Articles

Introduction to the Benchmarking in Optical Networks Special Issue

The first part of this special issue contains five papers addressing different aspects of good benchmarking practices in optical network research. We start with a brief introduction, followed by an overview of the papers and an invitation to contribute to the second part.

Introduction to the ONDM 2023 special issue

This JOCN special issue contains extended versions of selected papers presented at the 27th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM 2023), which took place on 8–11 May 2023 at the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. The articles in this special issue contain several current topics of optical networking research: quality of transmission (QoT) estimation and its importance in network control and optimization, strategies to reduce power consumption in optical networks, analysis of optical network resilience from the link level up to inter-carrier networks, and strategies to upgrade long-haul quantum key distribution networks.

Review of diffractive deep neural networks

In 2018, a UCLA research group published an important paper on optical neural network (ONN) research in the journal Science. It developed the world’s first all-optical diffraction deep neural network (DNN) system, which can perform MNIST dataset classification tasks at near-light-speed. To be specific, the UCLA research group adopted a terahertz light source as the input, established the all-optical diffractive DNN (D2NN) model using the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory, optimized the model parameters using the stochastic gradient descent algorithm, and then used 3D printing technology to make the diffraction grating and built the D2NN system. This research opened a new ONN research direction. Here, we first review and analyze the development history and basic theory of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and ONNs. Second, we elaborate D2NN as holographic optical elements (HOEs) interconnected by free space light and describe the theory of D2NN. Then we cover the nonlinear research and application scenarios for D2NN. Finally, the future directions and challenges of D2NN are briefly discussed. Hopefully, our work can provide support and help to researchers who study the theory and application of D2NN in the future.

Introduction to the ONDM 2022 special issue

This JOCN special issue contains extended versions of selected papers presented at the 26th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM 2022), which took place 16–19 May 2022 at Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland. The topics covered by the papers represent trends in optical networking research: application of machine learning to network management, cross-layer network performance optimization, visible light communication as well as coherent metro networks.

Introduction to the ONDM 2021 special issue

This JOCN special issue contains extended versions of selected papers presented at the 25th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM 2021), which took place virtually from 28 June through 1 July 2021. The topics covered by the papers represent clear trends in current optical networking research, including capacity upgrade through transmission parameter optimization in multiband systems, spectral efficiency improvement through probabilistic constellation shaping in Flex Grid/multicore fiber networks, novel point-to-multipoint optical architectures based on digital subcarrier multiplexing that enable a rethink of multilayer network design, and trustworthy inter-operator sharing of passive optical network capacity based on a smart contract.

Introduction to the ONDM2020 special issue

This JOCN special issue includes extended versions of selected papers that were presented at the 24th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM2020), which took place virtually on May 18–21, 2020. The topics covered by the papers represent clear trends in current optical networking research including filterless optical networks and their applicability in metropolitan scenarios; programmable, software-defined-networking-enabled sliceable bandwidth variable transceivers supporting multi-dimensionality; and two applications of machine learning—the cognitive reconfiguration of data-center networks in support of high-performance computing, and quality of transmission estimation for reduced margins.

Integration of self-standing X- and Y- shaped polymer coupler and splitter with single mode optical fibers

Abstract Polymer materials have always been considered as promising materials to be hybridized with silica fibers and form prominent optical devices. Therefore, polymeric integrated photonic devices are among the hotspots of optical network research. To rout, distribute and combine light signals throughout multichannel optical system, optical couplers, and optical splitters can play a significant role. Here we fabricate and characterize freestanding X- and Y- shaped polymer coupler and splitter with optical fibers by photopolymerization method. Polymer couplers showed insertion loss in the range between 1.6 dB and 2.6 dB with a small combination of light coupling. Optical splitters were made from polymer tips integrated with fibers and then they were Butt coupled. The optimum optical transmission was achieved with short and thicker input channel and thinner and longer tips at output channels such that a minimum excess loss of 2.9 dB was measured at 532 nm.

Optical networking within the Lightwave Energy-Efficient Datacenter project [Invited

The Lightwave Energy-Efficient Datacenter (LEED) project within the ARPA-e ENLITENED program is developing novel energy-efficient multichannel lightwave networks. These networks are enabled by a new optical “rotor” switch that can reconfigure the network topology in less than 20 µs and a field-programmable-gate-array-based network interface controller called Corundum that can provide precise network-wide synchronization of packets admitted into the lightwave network. Here we review the optical networking research within LEED and discuss future directions.

A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Passive Optical Network Research in the Last Decade

Passive optical networks (PONs) are the most successful broadband access solutions for its wide bandwidth, low-cost deployment worldwide, and maintenance. In the last decade, the diverse and prevalent research related to PONs sustains 330+ science citation index (SCI) articles per year, with 9.18 average citations per article, making it "big literature data". This article, for the first time, presents the graphical representation of knowledge base, knowledge domain, and knowledge evolution of PON research using co-citation analysis based on 3381 SCI publications worldwide from 2010 to 2019 in bibliometric visualization tool- CiteSpace. The bibliographic analysis focused on 528 important research articles, 34 hotspots, 155 research frontier keywords, 481 core authors, 185 cited authors, 58 countries, 254 institutions, and 118 journals. Based on the frequency of keywords, Modulation, WDM PON, Transmission, Semiconductor optical amplifier, and Dynamic bandwidth allocation are the dominant and turning points in the structural basis of PON research. The most prominent research hotspots appearing in recent years are Energy efficiency, NG-EPON, and Chaotic encryption. The trend of future research on PONs is from TWDM PON issues, fronthaul implementation in NG-PON2, 5G-PON and encryption methods for physical layer security. The leading core authors, institutes, countries, and journals were also identified related to the PON research. This analysis would serve as a comprehensive guide on the status and future research trends on PONs for the aspirant researchers.

Introduction to the OFC 2019 Special Issue

This special issue includes extensions of invited and top-scored optical networking papers that were presented at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference, held in San Diego, CA, March 10–14, 2019. We present an overview of the array of topics covered in the papers, tied in with some perspective on what drives optical networking research.

Special issue based on selected ONDM 2014 papers

The 18th International Conference on Optical Networks Design and Modeling—ONDM 2014 (http://ondm2014.ict. kth.se)—was held in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 19–22, 2014. ONDM is one of the premier venues in Europe for the optical network community to meet and exchange ideas. Following on the tradition set by its past editions, ONDM 2014 addressed cutting-edge research in optical networks, as well as topics where optical networks meet other areas and disciplines, such as softwaredefined networking (SDN), fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), and future internet design. ONDM2014was a three and a half day event organized by the Optical Networks Laboratory (ONLab) in the School of Information and Communication Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. ONDM 2014 was technically cosponsored by IFIP TC 6 (working group 6.10), by the IEEE Photonics Society, and by the IEEE Communication Society with the endorsement of TAOS and ONTC. The conference was also supported by EricssonAB, the IEEESwedishChapter, the FP7 project DISCUS, the Swedish Research Council, and the City of Stockholm. More than 100 high-quality technical papers were submitted by researchers from 30 countries all over the world.

A Better ACA for Routing and Wavelength Assignment in ASON with Supporting Different SLA of Services and 10Pbps Network Capacity

Dynamic RWA algorithm which supports differentiating business service quality levels becomes a hot research in optical networks. This paper proposes a better ant colony algorithm for routing and wavelength assignment in ASON with supporting differentiating SLA of services and 10P bps network capacity. Firstly, the algorithm adds the concept of business interval period M to dynamically adjust the wavelength grouped in different periods So as to better meet the sercice requests of different levels; Secondly the algorithm adds a link selection control factor in the transition probability function ACA in order to achieve a better link load balancing. Simulation results show that after joining the cyclical and link selection control factor, blocking rate becomes lower and the load of network becomes more evenly.

A State-of-the-Art Low-Power Optical Network Research

A State-of-the-Art Low-Power Optical Network Research

High Availability in Optical Networks: introduction to the feature issue

The Journal of Optical Networking's (JON) feature issue, focuses on architectures, technologies, and theory for achieving high service availability in optical transport networks. The feature accepted 14 submissions for publication, these works reflect some important directions and objectives in optical networking research. These papers can be categorized under three themes, cost considerations in survivable optical networks, optimization in survivability design including resource sharing schemes, availability guarantees, and capacity efficiency, protection in IP/MPLS over WDM. J. Farkas, A. Paradisi, and C. Antal, in their paper, proposes and experimentally validates a low-cost, robust, and scalable Ethernet-over-fiber network architecture with fast recovery from both node and link failures. The paper submitted by M. Scheffel proposes an interesting sort of template or building-block approach to constructing the end-to-end topology of a service path.

Optical networks research at UCL

New dynamic optical switching technologies and adaptive transmission techniques will allow increased capacity and flexibility in future core and metro networks. The Optical Networks Group at UCL has carried out research focused on these areas, in collaboration with industry and other university research groups, for over a decade. In this paper, the technical challenges to be overcome in implementing dynamic, high-capacity networks are discussed, and recent results of the group's work are presented. New network architectures based on wavelength-routing and optical burst switching have been proposed and analysed, and the experimental demonstration of burst switching using fast wavelength-tunable lasers is described. High-capacity dense wavelength division multiplexed transmission systems, using advanced regeneration and equalisation techniques, have been studied, both theoretically, and experimentally using a dynamically reconfigurable recirculating fibre loop. Research results on advanced optical signal formats, all-optical 3R regeneration at 40 Gbit/s channel rates, adaptive analogue and digital electronic processing techniques and optical finite impulse response equalisation are presented. Finally, the development of optical performance monitoring technology, a key component of future all-optical networks, is described. The paper concludes with a prediction of future trends in optical communications research.

Optical burst switching: a new area in optical networking research

In this tutorial, we give an introduction to optical burst switching and compare it with other existing optical switching paradigms. Basic burst assembly algorithms and their effect on assembled burst traffic characteristics are described first. Then a brief review of the early work on burst transmission is provided, followed by a description of a prevailing protocol for OBS networks called just-enough-time (JET). Algorithms used as an OBS core node for burst scheduling as well as contention resolution strategies are presented next. Trade-offs between their performance and implementation complexities are discussed. Recent work on QoS support, IP/WDM multicast, TCP performance in OBS networks, and labeled OBS is also described, and several open issues are mentioned.

Improving bandwidth efficiency in fault‐tolerant opaque IP over optical mesh networks

AbstractAdequately providing fault tolerance while using network capacity efficiently is a major topic of research in optical networks. In order to improve the network utilization, grooming of low‐rate connections in optical networks has been usually performed at the edge of the network. However, in all‐optical networks once a channel is assigned, its entire capacity is dedicated to the users independently of its grooming capabilities. As current users don't usually require such big capacities, bandwidth inefficiencies still occur. In this paper we address this issue introducing unlimited grooming per link (UGPL), a new restoration mechanism for opaque mesh optical networks that grooms connections on a per‐link basis. Simulation results show that UGPL provides the best bandwidth efficiency and the best blocking probability compared to traditional 1 + 1 protection and 1 : N end‐to‐end sharing schemes. Furthermore, we show that the 1 : N end‐to‐end restoration scheme provides no benefits over the simpler and faster 1 + 1 protection scheme. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Supporting the rollout of broadband in Europe: optical network research in the IST program

The introduction of affordable broadband services and applications will drive the next phase of deployment of optical networks. Research on optical networks and related photonics technologies, which has been a key element of the European Union's Research Programs over the past 15 years, has evolved in line with industry and market developments, and will continue, with a strong focus on broadband, in the Information Society Technologies (IST) priority of the new Framework Six Program. The infrastructure to deliver "broadband for all" is seen as the key future direction for optical networking, and the key growth market for industry.

Optical network research and development in European Community programs: from RACE to ACTS

The European Union programs of cooperative research and development in telecommunications aim to ensure the realization of the future information society. The RACE Program (1988 to 1995) made an important contribution to the development of advanced optical communications. The current ACTS Program has an increased focus on field trials and networking. ACTS projects in the field of optical networks are studying multiwavelength network concepts, customer access, high-speed multiplexing and transport, and components and subsystems.