EAGER: Advanced Wireless Communication Concepts Applied to Optical Fibers

EAGER：先进无线通信概念应用于光纤

• 批准号: 1230034
• 负责人: Seth Bank
• 金额: $ 12万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-04-01 至 2013-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1230034&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Advanced; Wireless; Communication; Concepts

We seek to investigate the application of advanced signaling and processing concepts, which have been developed for wireless communication, to multimode fiber-optic transmission systems. Traditionally, the maximum achievable data rate is limited by the distance-bandwidth product of the fiber; however, multiple-input multiple output signaling enables significant increases in bandwidth, by trading the fundamental limitations of dispersion for a computational exercise that that is well-understood. Our preliminary experimental results exceed what is achievable with traditional modulation schemes by over 24-fold, with the potential for orders of magnitude in additional performance, particularly with regard to bit-error-rate. In this program, we seek to expand our experimental and theoretical understanding of this new field by (1) building a low-cost, scalable, testbed using off-the-shelf components and (2) developing a complete theoretical framework.The potential for greatly enhancing the bandwidth of low-cost optical links is particularly compelling for data centers as they rely on multimode fiber links at the rack-to-rack and board-to-board level. A method to greatly increase the achievable bandwidths and reduce the energy-per-bit penalty would be truly enabling. There are also substantial pre-existing deployments of multimode fiber in local area networks across the nation. Due to higher component costs, it is cost-prohibitive in many cases to replace this multimode infrastructure with single-mode fiber networks, as a means to meet future bandwidth demands. Using our approach, the bandwidth of such systems can be upgraded without resorting to single-mode fibers. Additionally, future drive-by-light, fly-by-light, and optical shipboard systems could also be enabled with this approach; such systems are attractive because of the potential to greatly reduce size, weight, power, and sensitivity to electromagnetic interference, as compared with conventional electrical signaling. We believe that this effort is ideally suited to an EAGER because (1) the goals can be achieved rapidly and at moderately low cost; (2) it is a dramatic departure from conventional fiber-optic communication approaches with many fundamental questions remaining, rendering it virtually impossible to obtain funding through conventional mechanisms; (3) the effort is highly interdisciplinary (e.g. PI Bank is a photonic device and materials engineer, while Co-PI Vishwanath is an information theorist); and (4) upon answering the aforementioned questions, this approach can readily transition to more conventional funding mechanisms.Intellectual Merit. The intellectual merit lies in advancing the theoretical underpinnings and experimental findings associated with the application of wireless communication approaches to multimode fibers. To this end, we will develop a framework for modeling multiple-input multiple-output communication over multimode fiber. This analysis will merge tools from information theory and statistical signal processing with those from photonics. There is limited work at the intersection of these disciplines and our efforts will make significant inroads into developing a comprehensive framework for characterizing the fundamental limits of multimode fiber communications. We will leverage this theory to design novel devices that are ideally suited to harnessing the potential benefits of multiple-input multiple-output strategies. We will also construct a system testbed using off-the-shelf-components, to study how performance scales with the number of transmitters and receivers, providing valuable feedback to the theoretical analysis.Broader Impact. At the conclusion of this effort, we expect to demonstrate truly enabling capabilities in optical fiber communications, with myriad potential new applications. In addition to our research findings, which will be disseminated through journal publications and conference talks, we also seek to engage students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels on the concepts and implications of optical fiber communication systems, their underlying foundations, and the importance of rigorous validation and evaluation. To this end, the PIs will develop presentations and demonstrations to engage high school students and teachers across Texas, through mechanisms including UT-Austin?s Edison Lecture Series, Summer Nanoscience Academy, and UTeach. We will also develop new undergraduate research projects on optical communications, to enhance the offerings of the NSF-REU site EURECA, directed by co-PI Vishwanath. This program targets participants from underrepresented groups enrolled at universities across the state of Texas. Additionally, as part of the team?s commitment to the nation?s student community, lectures generated by the PIs will be converted into course modules and made available online through The University of Texas? World Lecture Hall website.

我们试图调查已开发用于无线通信的高级信号传导和处理概念的应用，这些概念已用于多模光纤传输系统。 传统上，最大可实现的数据速率受到纤维的距离宽度限制。但是，通过将分散的基本限制交换为易于理解的计算练习，多多输入多重输出信号可以显着增加带宽。 我们的初步实验结果超过了传统调制方案可实现的24倍以上，具有额外性能的数量级，尤其是在比特率率方面。 在该计划中，我们试图通过（1）使用现成的组件建立低成本，可扩展的测试床以及（2）开发完整的理论框架来扩展对这一新领域的实验和理论理解。由于依赖多模数链接的数据中心，因此可以极大地增强低调光学链接的束缚，以极大地增强型号的束缚，从而极大地增强了多模数的链接，从而极大地增强了多模数链接的潜力。一种大大增加可实现的带宽和减少每位罚款的方法将真正实现。 在全国各地的当地网络中，多模纤维也存在大量的现有部署。 由于组件成本较高，在许多情况下，用单模光纤网络替换此多模基础架构的成本较高，以满足未来的带宽需求。 使用我们的方法，可以升级此类系统的带宽而无需诉诸单模纤维。 此外，通过这种方法，也可以启用未来的驾驶，逐灯和光学船上系统。与常规电信号相比，由于可能会大大降低大小，重量，功率和对电磁干扰的敏感性，因此此类系统具有吸引力。 我们认为，这项努力理想地适合渴望，因为（1）目标可以迅速和中等成本实现； （2）与传统的光纤通信方法截然不同，这是一个巨大的偏离，剩下许多基本问题，这几乎是不可能通过传统机制获得资金的； （3）努力是高度跨学科的（例如，PI银行是一名光子设备和材料工程师，而Co-Pi Vishwanath是信息理论家）； （4）回答上述问题后，这种方法可以很容易地过渡到更常规的资金机制。 知识分子的优点在于推进与将无线通信方法应用于多模纤维相关的理论基础和实验发现。 为此，我们将开发一个框架，用于对多模纤维上的多输入多输出通信进行建模。 该分析将从信息理论和统计信号处理中将工具与光子学的工具合并。 在这些学科的交汇处的工作有限，我们的努力将大大涉足开发一个综合框架来表征多模纤维通信的基本限制。 我们将利用这一理论来设计新颖的设备，这些设备非常适合利用多输入多输出策略的潜在好处。 我们还将使用现成的组件构建一个系统测试台，以研究如何使用发射机和接收器的数量来缩放性能，从而为理论分析提供宝贵的反馈。 在这项工作结束时，我们希望通过无数的潜在新应用来展示光纤通信中真正有助于的能力。 除了通过期刊出版物和会议演讲将传播的研究结果外，我们还寻求吸引高中，本科生和研究生层面的学生，介绍光纤通信系统的概念和含义，其基本基础以及严格的验证和评估的重要性。 为此，PIS将通过包括Ut-Austin的Edison讲座系列，Summer Nanoscience Academy和Uteach在内的机制来开发演讲和演示，以吸引得克萨斯州的高中生和老师。 我们还将开发有关光学通信的新本科研究项目，以增强由Co-Pi Vishwanath指导的NSF-REU网站Eureca的产品。 该计划的目标是来自德克萨斯州大学的代表性不足的团体的参与者。 此外，作为团队对国家学生社区的承诺，PIS产生的讲座将转换为课程模块，并通过德克萨斯大学在线提供？世界演讲厅网站。