Spatial division multiplexing for optical data center networks

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200 Gbps/lane IM/DD Technologies for Short Reach Optical Interconnects

Client-side optics are facing an ever-increasing upgrading pace, driven by upcoming 5G related services and datacenter applications. The demand for a single lane data rate is soon approaching 200 Gbps. To meet such high-speed requirement, all segments of traditional intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) technologies are being challenged. The characteristics of electrical and optoelectronic components and the performance of modulation, coding, and digital signal processing (DSP) techniques are being stretched to their limits. In this context, we witnessed technological breakthroughs in several aspects, including development of broadband devices, novel modulation formats and coding, and high-performance DSP algorithms for the past few years. A great momentum has been accumulated to overcome the aforementioned challenges. In this article, we focus on IM/DD transmissions, and provide an overview of recent research and development efforts on key enabling technologies for 200 Gbps per lane and beyond. Our recent demonstrations of 200 Gbps short-reach transmissions with 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and discrete multitone signals are also presented as examples to show the system requirements in terms of device characteristics and DSP performance. Apart from digital coherent technologies and advanced direct detection systems, such as Stokes–vector and Kramers–Kronig schemes, we expect high-speed IM/DD systems will remain advantageous in terms of system cost, power consumption, and footprint for short reach applications in the short- to mid- term perspective

Enabling Technologies for Optical Data Center Networks: Spatial Division Multiplexing

With the continuously growing popularity of cloud services, the traffic volume inside the\ua0data\ua0centers is dramatically increasing. As a result, a scalable and efficient infrastructure\ua0for\ua0data\ua0center\ua0networks\ua0(DCNs) is required. The current\ua0optical\ua0DCNs using either individual fibers or fiber ribbons are costly, bulky, hard to manage, and not scalable.\ua0Spatial\ua0division\ua0multiplexing\ua0(SDM) based on multicore or multimode (few-mode) fibers is recognized as a promising technology to increase the\ua0spatial\ua0efficiency\ua0for\ua0optical\ua0DCNs, which opens a new way towards high capacity and scalability. This tutorial provides an overview of the components, transmission options, and interconnect architectures\ua0for\ua0SDM-based DCNs, as well as potential technical challenges and future directions. It also covers the co-existence of SDM and other\ua0multiplexing\ua0techniques, such as wavelength-division\ua0multiplexing\ua0and flexible spectrum\ua0multiplexing, in\ua0optical\ua0DCNs

Advanced high speed data and clock transmission over optical fibre for square kilometre telescope array

There is an ever present need from Internet users for more bandwidth. This is manifested by continuous increase in bandwidth demanding applications such as 5G wireless, new end user consumer links like thunderbolt, video conferencing, high definition video-on-demand transmitted over the Internet and massive data transfers required with and within data centres for backup, storage and data processing in cloud computing. Fibre optic communications technologies are playing a pivotal role in communication, being a major enabling technology in our increasingly Internet-centric society. As network services continue to become more dynamic and diverse, Internet service providers are faced with a challenge of cost reduction in the transmission network, power and spectral efficiency as well as scalability of the optical network infrastructure to support incremental expansions and virtual machines. Intelligent design of terrestrial optical networks to allow for simultaneous signal transmission through shared network infrastructure, and the use of low cost, power efficient, high bandwidth transmitters such as vertical surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) as well as exploitation of spectral efficient in-complex advanced modulation formats is a viable approach to this situation. In this study, techniques for spectral efficiency upgrade and simultaneous transmission of data signal, reference frequency (RF) clock signal and pulse-per-second (PPS) over shared infrastructure have experimentally been optimized in a laboratory environment for adoption in next-generation telescope array networks such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), time keeping systems such as banking systems, Coordinated Universal Time(UTC) timing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), as well as high capacity spectral efficient short reach optical fibre networks such as data centres. This work starts by experimentally optimizing VCSEL technology for simultaneous transmission of 10 Gbps data and 1.712 GHz RF clock signal over a single G. 655 optical fibre of length 24.75 Km at different channel spacing and different propagation direction for implementation in a cost effective next-generation telescope array network. The wavelength tuneability property of VCSEL transmitters allows for wavelength adjustment, a key requirement for simultaneous data and RF clock signal transmission over a single optical fibre. A receiver sensitivity of -19.19 dBm was experimentally achieved at back-to-back analysis. A 24.75 Km of simultaneous data and RF clock signal transmission performed at 0.4 nm channel spacing introduced a transmission penalty of 1.07 dB and 1.63 dB for counter and co-propagation scheme respectively. This work mainly utilized direct modulation and direct detection using a positive intrinsic negative (PIN) due to its simplicity and cost effectiveness. A novel modulation technique for simultaneous data and polarization-based pulse-per-second timing clock signal transmission using a single VCSEL carrier is experimentally demonstrated. Two signal types, a directly modulated 10 Gbps data signal and a polarization-based pulse per second (PPS) clock signal are modulated onto a single mode 10 GHz bandwidth VCSEL carrier at 1310 nm. Spectral efficiency is maximized by exploiting the inherent orthogonal polarization switching of the xiv VCSEL with changing bias in transmission of the PPS signal. A 10 Gbps VCSEL transmission with PPS over 11 Km of G.652 fibre introduced a transmission penalty of 0.52 dB. The contribution of PPS clock signal to this penalty was found to be 0.08 dB. A technique for simultaneous directly modulated data and phase modulated reference clock signal transmission over a signal channel in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) solutions is experimentally demonstrated. This is to prepare solutions to the ever-increasing demand over gigabit/s, terabit/s and gigahertz capacities in WDM-based terrestrial optical fibre transmission systems such as telescope array networks. a total capacity of 30 Gbps (310 Gbps) data and 12 GHz ( 4 3 GHz) reference clock signal are multiplexed at a channel spacing of 100 GHz and simultaneously transmitted over a single mode G.655 fibre of length 24.73 Km. The recovery of the phase modulated RF clock signal using a differential delay line interferometry technique is experimentally demonstrated. A 625 Gbps (2525 Gbps) DWDM data transmission system is further implemented in simulation by multiplexing 25 channels at 25 Gbps per channel using 50 GHz channel spacing. A four level pulse amplitude modulation (4-PAM) data modulation format employing VCSELs is experimentally demonstrated for adoption in high bitrate networks such as big data science projects and data centre networks. 4-PAM offers a good trade-off between complexity, efficiency, reach, and sensitivity. A software defined digital signal processing (DSP) receiver is designed and implemented in MATLAB to recover the transmitted 4-PAM data signal cost effectively without the necessity of costly receiver hardware. A novel technique for maximizing carrier spectral efficiency through simultaneous 20 Gbps 4-PAM data and phase modulated 2 GHz RF clock signal transmission on a single mode 10 GHz bandwidth VCSEL carrier at 1310 nm is experimentally demonstrated for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Data transmission and clock stability performance of the designed high spectral efficient VCSEL-based link network is evaluated through BER curve plots, phase noise measurements and Allan variance analysis respectively. VCSEL-based Raman amplification is experimentally demonstrated as a viable approach for RF clock signal distribution in extended reach astronomical telescope array networks and other extended reach terrestrial optical fibre network application. This is achieved by adopting two pumping techniques namely forward pumping and backward pumping. A maximum on off gain of 5.7 dB and 1.5 dB was experimentally attained for forward pumping and backward pumping at 24 dBm pump power respectively, while a maximum 100.8 Km fibre transmission achieved experimentally. In summary, this study has successfully demonstrated in-complex, spectral efficient, low cost and power efficient simultaneous data signal, reference frequency (RF) clock signal and pulse-per-second (PPS) transmission techniques over shared network infrastructure. Simultaneous transmission of data, RF clock and PPS timing signal is relevant in nextgeneration telescope array networks such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), time keeping systems such as banking systems, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), as well as high capacity spectral efficient short reach optical fibre networks such as data centres

A Novel Equalizer for 112 Gb/s CAP-Based Data Transmission over 150 m MMF Links

© 1983-2012 IEEE. In this paper a novel feedforward and decision feedback equalizer is proposed for the first time for use in short-reach high-speed communication links based on carrierless amplitude and phase (CAP) modulation. The proposed new equalizer mitigates crosstalk between the in-phase (I-) and quadrature (Q-) channels resulting from the non-linear phase response of the link enabling significant improvement in the link performance when operating at high data rates. The structure of this novel equalizer is introduced, its operation is described, and simulation and experimental studies on short-reach high-speed MMF links using 850 nm multimode VCSELs are presented. Data transmission tests are carried out over 150 m of OM4 MMF at 112 Gb/s using CAP modulation and the proposed CAP equalizer, and a bit-error-rate (BER) within the hard-decision forward error-correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.8 × 10-3 is achieved. The link is also tested when a conventional equalizer is used instead of the CAP equalizer and when adaptive discrete multitone (DMT) modulation is applied. The performance of the link is compared for these different transmission schemes and it is shown that the use of the novel equalizer and CAP modulation outperforms the other two schemes. The proposed equalizer can be implemented with low additional complexity, providing a potential cost-effective solution enabling >100 Gb/s single-lane data transmission in short-reach MMF-based links.UK EPSRC via the Terabit Bidirectional Multi-user Optical Wireless System project (TOWS) (EP/S016570/1)

Comunicações avançadas com fibra óptica plástica

Nowadays, fiber to the Home/Curb/Building/Cabinet (FTTx) services that interconnect homes with a standard glass optical fiber cables to the core/access optical networks have brought the optical fiber at the doorsteps of our homes. However, the last few miles in home access network is still based on the limited bandwidth electronic component which supports by the cooper wires e.g. Cat-5, 6. The rapid growth of personal smart/mobile electronic devices with new developments such as video on demand, High Definition (HD) and three-Dimension (3D) television (TV), cloud computing, video conferences, etc. has been proposed new challenges for the next generation high bandwidth demand required for subscribers in home access network. In order to meet the more demanding expectations of the end user with new developments, it is necessary to improve the physical infrastructure of the existing in home networks in order to obtain the best ratio between quality of service and price of implementation. Plastic optical fibers (POFs) are point out as a promising transmission medium for short-range communication in compare to the “classic” single/multimode glass optical fibers and current cooper wire technology developments. The main advantages of POF are its easy to install, easy splicing and the possibility of using low cost optical transceivers, capability of being robust, and immunity to electromagnetic noise interference. However, the benefits of large-core POFs come at the expense of a less bandwidth and a higher attenuation than silica-based solution. The main objective of this doctoral dissertation is to explore the possibilities and develop low cost, short reach, high data rate POF-links for in home networks applications. This thesis investigates the use of multilevel modulation in particular, pulse amplitude modulation (PAM in combination of the receiver equalizer in order to overcome the bandwidth limitations of the graded index POFs. The possibility of the using multiple channels over a single fiber to increase the capacity of POF systems using commercially available multimode components is also analyzed in this dissertation. Moreover, a low cost Digitised radio signal over plastic fiber system is proposed and evaluated to deliver digital baseband data for wireline and wireless users in home access network. The deployment will be specified in terms of performance, maximum rates and any degradation that might appear in the network. Furthermore, the possibilities of the microstructured fibers in telecommunication application will be studied with main emphasis on their structural design. The photonic crystal fibers made of different highly nonlinear materials with different structures are optimized to achieve ultra-flat dispersion, high nonlinearity and low confinement loss over a broad range of wavelengths in the perspective of their usage in telecommunication applications.Hoje em dia, a possibilidade de a fibra óptica até casa (FTTH) para a transmissão simultânea de diferentes serviços como internet, telefone, televisão digital é uma realidade. No entanto, para satisfazer as expectativas mais exigentes do usuário final com novos desenvolvimentos, tais como vídeo sob demanda, de alta definição (HD) e tridimensional (3D) de televisão (TV), computação em nuvem, vídeo conferências, etc., é necessário melhorar a infra-estrutura física da existente em redes domésticas, a fim de obter a melhor relação entre a qualidade do serviço e preço de implementação. Fibra óptica de plástico (POF) é considerada um meio de transmissão promissor para comunicações de curto alcance, queando comparadas com a clássica fibra óptica de silica (tanto monomodo como multimodo) e com as tecnologias atuais baseadas em fio de cobre. As principais vantagens da POF encontramse na sua facilidade de instalação e conecção, possibilidade de uso de fontes e detectores de baixo custo, robustez e imunidade electromagnética. No entanto, o uso da POF de elevado diâmetro têm também desvantagens uma vez que esta oferece uma menor largura de banda e uma atenuação superior à fibra de sílica convêncional. Esta dissertação de doutoramento tem como principal objetivo explorar as possibilidades de desemvolvimento de componentes de baixo custo baseados em POF para redes de curto alcance, com alta taxa de transmisssão de dados. Esta tese investiga a utilização de vários formatos de modulação combinados com equalizador e receptor, de maneira a superar as limitações de largura de banda em sistemas de comunicação óptica de curto alcance. Em particular, a modulação em amplitude de impulso (PAM) é proposta e investigada a fim de aumentar a capacidade de tais sistemas. Além disso, a possibilidade de usar múltiplos canais, utilizando uma única fibra óptica, também conhecido por multiplexagem por divisão de comprimento de onda (WDM), será analisada neste trabalho. A viabilidade das tecnologias de redes de acesso tanto a nível individual como em sistemas WDM serão analisadas usando componentes multimodo disponíveis comercialmente. A implementação será especificada em termos de desempenho tanto a nível da taxas máximas de transmissão, bem como na degradação do sinal que possa ocorrer na rede. No capitulo 5 desta dissertação é apresentado sistema de radio através de fibra. Este tipo de sistemas permite a simplificação das estações base providenciando também uma elevada manutenção de custos. O principal objectivo deste estudo prende-se com a investigação do impacto da amostragem na preformance de digitalização de rádio através de fibra e também como a introdução de fibra óptica de plástico pode afetar o sistema. Além disso, a possibilidade da aplicação de fibras óticas microestruturadas em redes de telecomunicações serão estudadas com ênfase principal na sua concepção estrutural. As fibras de cristal fotônico feitas de diferentes materiais altamente não-lineares com diferentes estruturas serão otimizadas a fim de alcançar uma dispersão ultra-plana, elevada não linearidade e baixa perda de confinamento em uma vasta gama espectral, na perspectiva de seu uso em aplicações de telecomunicações.Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Eletrotécnic