Photonic network technology for a low carbon digital economy.

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The goal of the proposed research programme is to develop information and communications network infrastructure capable of supporting new applications that push bandwidth and accessibility limits in the context of a low-carbon digital economy. Specifically, it is proposed to design and evaluate the performance of an energy efficient network infrastructure that features a unified control plane to integrate the Internet protocol into optical metro networks to provide flexible and intelligent bandwidth on demand for cloud computing; to develop fast and scalable single-chip transparent optical switches critical to the implementation; and, contribute to the sustainability of the technology through longer term research to transform new concepts in nanophotonic devices and integration from curiosities into ultra-low energy consumption photonic devices that approach thermodynamic limits. The expected results are: system architectures uniquely designed to deal with escalating information and communications technology network energy costs; single chip optical phased array switches and switch fabrics that may be expected to revolutionise photonic network thinking and ignite interest in commercialisation; novel phase-shift elements and coherent electro-optical frequency up-converters that will ensure the competitiveness of 'digital coherent optical transport of radio over fibre' for broadband wireless access and significantly advance the research agenda on 'coherent optical transmission everywhere', which uniquely challenges conventional modulation architectures. The outcomes will contribute to the success of Canada's strategy for a digital economy; tearing down barriers to the realisation of 'sustainable digital cities' vital to the world economy in the third millennium. Most important, the research will develop highly qualified and skilled personnel promoting effective knowledge transfer and helping to fill the employment needs of Canadian industry.