Software defined integrated photonic processors for next generation communications applications

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The spectacular growth of the world's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) networks is currently driving a continued exponential increase in Internet traffic; and thus, Canada's Digital Economy Strategy heralds a critical need for innovative research to develop network applications that will enhance broadband capacity and speed, and push accessibility limits. Software-defined networking (SDN) and emerging elastic optical network (EON) technologies are key technology enablers for next-generation optical and wireless networks. To fully deploy these technologies (RF-) photonic integrated circuits are required which are fully programmable. With continued advances in photonic integration circuit fabrication technologies, it is now feasible to implement phase-reconfigurable coherent-optical processing functions of the requisite precision for these applications. The research programme is founded upon a highly original, but realistic and feasible coherent circuit architecture, control algorithms and the use of novel engineered metamaterials. There is a strong expectation of the generation of new knowledge in areas as diverse as: design of new materials and photonic circuit architectures, modelling of materials properties, fabrication of the required meta-materials, optoelectronic and electro optic device hybridisation with silicon, and the demonstration of photonic integrated circuits for the Pbit/s era. The programme is important because the development of practical cost-effective SDN-EON enabled photonic integrated circuits will trigger a breakthrough in high-capacity low energy consumption datacentre, optical and 5G wireless networks. The knowledge gained from this project can therefore have a major impact in terms of reduced operating costs and environmental impact. The results of this project will benefit Canada by supporting the growth in ICT network infrastructure critical to a knowledge-based digital economy. It will contribute directly to wealth creation through new products and processes with a market impact. It will also support Canada's leading position in ICT by training of highly qualified personnel with transferable skills, which is the most effective means of knowledge transfer from academia to industry.