NSF Engineering Research Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN)

亚利桑那大学（牵头），以Nasser Peyghambarian为校长，及其合作机构，加州大学圣地亚哥分校、南加州大学、加州理工学院、加州大学伯克利分校、哥伦比亚大学、斯坦福大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校，诺福克州立大学和塔斯基吉大学提议建立一个综合接入网络中心（CIAN）。 CIAN的愿景是为光接入网络创造变革性技术，几乎任何需要任何资源的应用都可以无缝、高效地聚合，并以具有成本效益的方式与现有和未来的核心网络连接。 类似于今天几十年的演变？CIAN的愿景是通过采用光电集成技术，创建相当于光接入网络的个人计算机，以实现对任何类型服务的负担得起的灵活接入，包括随时随地向广大人群提供接近10千兆比特/秒的数据速率。CIAN的智力优势包括：（1）将昂贵的基于分立元件的子系统转换为灵活的、具有成本效益的集成光电子子系统，以实现可扩展的、可负担得起的高数据速率接入网络;以及（2）通过将服务从网络的较高层移动到更靠近物理层来展示灵活的网络功能。 为了实现这些目标，CIAN战略研究计划分为三个综合技术重点。 推力1：光通信系统和网络将作为？自上而下推动组件和设备的开发和集成，以实现和展示适用于超高数据速率处理中心等应用的新型网络功能。 推力二：子系统集成和硅纳米光子学将探索信号调理，处理，重新配置和控制功能，实现各种平台，包括CMOS兼容的纳米结构和硅纳米光子学，以及多功能集成子系统，利用单片和异构集成。 推力3：材料与器件将作为科学和技术基础，通过研究芯片级集成光电子学的新材料，器件技术，加工和集成方法。 共享CIAN测试床是一个研究设施，允许CIAN？的综合垂直结构的研究工作进行整合，使有效的系统驱动的参与者之间的合作研究和更广泛的研究和工业界。 更广泛的影响，CIAN？我们的研究将在每个家庭和生活质量中得到体现。 超高数据速率和经济高效的服务将有助于业务创新，改善教育机会，增强医疗服务的分布，避免不必要的通勤费用和人力成本，最大限度地减少基础设施和污染对环境的影响，大大减少对能源进口的依赖，实现新的和多样化的娱乐机会，并提高整体国家安全。 承载这些服务的基础设施与航空、铁路和公路运输系统或电网一样是宝贵的国家资源。 教育，研究和知识转移将通过CIAN基于团队的多学科环境进行整合。 教育，推广和多样性工作将侧重于教育熟练和多样化的劳动力，包括美洲原住民，西班牙裔美国人和非洲裔美国人。 CIAN将有一个广泛的大学预科教育和推广计划。 创造知识产权和技术转让将是CIAN的基石？的努力。

The University of Arizona (Lead) with Nasser Peyghambarian as its director, and its partner institutions, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Southern California, the California Institute of Technology, the University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, Stanford University, the University of California at Los Angeles, Norfolk State University and Tuskegee University propose to establish a Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN). The vision of CIAN is to create transformative technologies for optical access networks where virtually any application requiring any resource can be seamlessly and efficiently aggregated and interfaced with existing and future core networks in a cost-effective manner. Analogous to the evolution over decades of today?s computer laptop using massive integration of discrete electronic components, the CIAN vision would lead to the creation of the PC equivalent of the optical access network by employing optoelectronic integration to enable affordable and flexible access to any type of service, including delivery of data rates approaching 10 Gigabits/sec to a broad population base anywhere and at anytime.The intellectual merit of CIAN includes: (1) transforming expensive discrete components-based subsystems into flexible cost-effective integrated optoelectronic subsystems to achieve scaleable and affordable high-data-rate access networks; and (2) demonstrating flexible network functionalities by moving services from the higher layers of the network closer to the physical layer. To achieve these goals, the CIAN strategic research program is organized into three integrated technical thrusts. Thrust 1: Optical Communication Systems and Networking will act as the ?top-down? driver for the development and integration of components and devices to enable and demonstrate novel network functionalities for applications including ultra high-data-rate processing centers. Thrust 2: Subsystem Integration and Silicon Nanophotonics will explore signal conditioning, processing, reconfiguration, and control functions realized with various platforms including CMOS compatible nanostructures and silicon nanophotonics, and multifunctional integrated subsystems exploiting monolithic and heterogeneous integration. Thrust 3: Materials and Devices will act as the scientific and technological foundation by conducting research on new materials, device technologies, processing and integration methods for chip-scale integrated optoelectronics. The shared CIAN Testbed is a research facility that allows CIAN?s comprehensive vertically structured research efforts to be integrated, enabling effective systems-driven collaborative research among participants and the wider research and industrial community. The broader impacts of CIAN?s research will be felt in every home and in the quality of life. Ultra-high data rate and cost effective services will contribute to business innovation, improve educational opportunities, enhance distribution of medical services, avoid the expense and human costs of unnecessary commuting, minimize the environmental impact from infrastructure and pollution, substantially reduce dependence on energy imports, enable new and varied entertainment opportunities, and increase overall national security. The infrastructure to carry these services is as precious a national resource as the air, rail, and road transportation system or the electrical power grid. Education, research, and knowledge transfer will be integrated through the team-based multidisciplinary environment of CIAN. The education, outreach and diversity efforts will focus on educating a skilled and diverse workforce including Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans. CIAN will have an extensive pre-college education and outreach program. Creation of intellectual property and technology transfer will be a cornerstone of CIAN?s efforts.