Software defined integrated photonic processors for next generation communications applications

全球信息和通信技术(ICT)网络的惊人增长目前正在推动互联网流量的持续指数增长；因此，加拿大的数字经济战略预示着迫切需要进行创新研究，以开发将提高宽带容量和速度并推动可访问性限制的网络应用程序。软件定义网络(SDN)和新兴的弹性光网络(EON)技术是下一代光网络和无线网络的关键技术推动因素。要完全部署这些技术(射频)，需要完全可编程的光子集成电路。随着光子集成电路制造技术的不断进步，实现这些应用所需精度的相位可重构相干光处理功能现已成为可能。该研究计划建立在高度原创但现实可行的相干电路架构、控制算法和新型工程超材料的使用上。人们对新知识的产生有着强烈的期望，这些领域包括：新材料和光子电路结构的设计，材料性质的建模，所需元材料的制造，光电和电光器件与硅的混合，以及为PBIT/S时代展示光子集成电路。该计划之所以重要，是因为支持SDN-EON的实用高性价比光子集成电路的开发将触发大容量、低能耗数据中心、光纤和5G无线网络的突破。因此，从该项目中获得的知识可以在减少业务成本和环境影响方面产生重大影响。该项目的成果将使加拿大受益，因为它将支持对以知识为基础的数字经济至关重要的信通技术网络基础设施的增长。它将通过具有市场影响的新产品和新工艺直接为财富创造做出贡献。它还将通过培训具有可转让技能的高素质人员来支持加拿大在信息和通信技术领域的领先地位，这是将知识从学术界转移到工业界的最有效手段。

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.