NeTS: Small: Elastic RF-Optical Networking (ERON) System and Technologies

该项目寻求一种创新的方法来设计非常高带宽和无处不在的无线网络，利用RF光子信号处理和集成光子学的独特特性，用于新兴的下一代和高带宽5G技术。光子和电子系统协同设计所提供的灵活性有可能为移动的用户提供比当前技术所提供的带宽增加100倍的带宽。该项目将利用关键的物理层技术，例如硅光子学（SiP）上的动态光波形生成和测量（OAWG和OAWM），以及SiP晶格滤波器（SiPhaser）和光子混频器。这些技术的结合将提供一种独特而高效的前传架构，以在毫米波频率下执行模拟MIMO波束成形，而无需任何复杂的高速RF电路。主要研究内容包括：（1）射频光网络结构设计和性能研究;（2）DSP、编码和mmWave-MIMO算法开发;（3）模拟射频光波束形成的SiPhaser滤波器仿真研究;（4）具有RF光子处理的SDM MIMO毫米波的原理验证演示。未来的互联网应用将成倍增加对无处不在、移动性、和带宽，尤其是快速扩展的云数据中心基础设施。当今的无线网络通常限于1~100 Mb/s的连接，具有有限的端到端吞吐量、延迟和可靠性。虽然光纤网络在数千公里的距离上在每个单模光纤上提供1~100 Tb/s的容量，但是它们限于广域网和城域网，不容易被移动的用户访问。该项目旨在通过为拥有移动的设备的公民提供额外的带宽来改善我国的网络基础设施。该项目还将提供一个令人兴奋的机会，在未来的网络平台上培训学生设计，开发和测试算法和物理层技术。

This project seeks an innovative approach to the design of very high-bandwidth and ubiquitous wireless networks exploiting the unique properties of RF-photonic signal processing and integrated photonics for emerging next-generation and high-bandwidth 5G technologies. The flexibility offered by the photonic and electronic system co-design has the potential to provide a 100-fold increase in bandwidth available for the mobile users, compared to what currently available with current technology. This project will exploit key enabling physical layer technologies, such as dynamic optical waveform generation and measurement (OAWG and OAWM) on silicon photonics (SiP), together with SiP lattice filters (SiPhaser) and photonic mixers. The combination of these technologies will provide a unique and efficient front-haul architecture to perform analog massive-MIMO beamforming at mm-wave frequencies without requiring any complex high-speed RF circuitry. The following topics will be investigated: (1) RF-Optical Networking architecture design and performance studies; (2) DSP, coding, and mmWave-MIMO algorithms development; (3) simulation studies of analog RF-optical beamforming by SiPhaser filters; (4) Proof-of-principle demonstration of SDM MIMO mmWave with RF-photonic processing.Future Internet applications will exponentially increase the demand for ubiquity, mobility, and bandwidth through diverse platforms, in particular, rapidly expanding cloud data center infrastructures. Today's wireless networks are typically limited to 1~100 Mb/s connectivity with limited end-to-end throughput, latency, and reliability. While fiber optic networks provide 1~100 Tb/s capacity on each single-mode-fiber over thousands of kilometer distances, they are limited to wide area and metro networks, not readily accessible by mobile users. This project seeks to improve our nation's cyberinfrastructure by making additional bandwidth available to citizens with mobile devices. The project will also provide an exciting opportunity to train students in design, developing, and testing algorithms and physical layer technologies on a futuristic networking platform.