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.

我们致力于研究为无线通信而开发的先进信号和处理概念在多模光纤传输系统中的应用。 传统上，可实现的最大数据速率受到光纤距离带宽积的限制；然而，多输入多输出信号通过将色散的基本限制换成易于理解的计算练习，可以显着增加带宽。 我们的初步实验结果比传统调制方案可实现的结果高出 24 倍以上，并且有可能实现数个数量级的额外性能，特别是在误码率方面。 在这个项目中，我们寻求通过以下方式扩展我们对这个新领域的实验和理论理解：(1) 使用现成的组件构建一个低成本、可扩展的测试台，以及 (2) 开发一个完整的理论框架。对于数据中心来说，大幅增强低成本光链路带宽的潜力尤其引人注目，因为它们依赖于机架到机架和板到板级别的多模光纤链路。一种能够大大增加可实现的带宽并减少每比特能量损失的方法将是真正可行的。 全国各地的局域网中也已经大量部署了多模光纤。 由于组件成本较高，在许多情况下用单模光纤网络取代多模基础设施来满足未来带宽需求的成本过高。 使用我们的方法，可以升级此类系统的带宽，而无需诉诸单模光纤。 此外，未来的光控驾驶、光控飞行和光学船载系统也可以通过这种方法实现。与传统的电气信号相比，此类系统具有很大的吸引力，因为它可以大大减小尺寸、重量、功耗和对电磁干扰的敏感性。 我们认为，这项工作非常适合 EAGER，因为 (1) 可以以较低的成本快速实现目标； (2)它与传统的光纤通信方法有很大的不同，仍然存在许多基本问题，导致几乎不可能通过传统机制获得资金； (3) 这项工作具有高度跨学科性（例如 PI Bank 是一名光子器件和材料工程师，而 Co-PI Vishwanath 是一名信息理论家）； (4) 在回答上述问题后，这种方法可以很容易地过渡到更传统的资助机制。 其智力价值在于推进与多模光纤无线通信方法应用相关的理论基础和实验结果。 为此，我们将开发一个框架，用于对多模光纤上的多输入多输出通信进行建模。 该分析将信息论和统计信号处理的工具与光子学的工具结合起来。 这些学科交叉点的工作有限，我们的努力将在开发一个全面的框架来表征多模光纤通信的基本限制方面取得重大进展。 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优势。 我们还将使用现成的组件构建一个系统测试台，以研究性能如何随着发射器和接收器的数量而变化，为理论分析提供有价值的反馈。更广泛的影响。 在这项工作结束时，我们期望展示光纤通信的真正支持能力，以及无数潜在的新应用。 除了我们将通过期刊出版物和会议演讲传播的研究成果之外，我们还寻求让高中、本科生和研究生级别的学生了解光纤通信系统的概念和含义、其基础以及严格验证和评估的重要性。 为此，PI 将通过 UT-Austin 爱迪生系列讲座、夏季纳米科学学院和 UTeach 等机制，制作演示文稿和演示，吸引德克萨斯州各地的高中生和教师。 我们还将开发新的光通信本科生研究项目，以增强 NSF-REU 网站 EURECA 的服务，由联合 PI Vishwanath 领导。 该计划针对来自德克萨斯州各大学就读的代表性不足群体的参与者。 此外，作为团队对国家学生社区承诺的一部分，PI 生成的讲座将被转换为课程模块，并通过德克萨斯大学在线提供。世界讲堂网站。