Smallest Integrated Networks for Highest Data Density

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The exponential increase in data continues to force important societal changes across the world. From scientific simulations to consumer electronics, data processing has entertained us, but more importantly saved lives and influenced economical growth. However, many parts of the world have weak infrastructures, or are unable to afford the high cost of modern computing systems. Indeed, to meet the high demand for data processing and storage, complex systems with thousands of processors are working in parallel interconnected through electrical switches, inherently limiting their long term scalability in terms of performance. With recent advancements in photonic integration, the electrical interconnectivity can be replaced with optical technologies. The proposed program addresses the system integration of photonics towards high data density. The expected research outcome will lead to practical scalability with performance enhancement in modern computer systems. Furthermore, price deflation which comes with the increase in performance makes these modern computing systems more accessible to all parts of the world, including remote areas of the Canadian landscape where energy is not easily available to process large amount of data required such as in the mining industry or in supporting the northern communities. Dr. Liboiron-Ladouceur's proposal is on the investigation of the fundamental limits of the highest on-chip bandwidth density in optically interconnected CMOS-based heterogeneous computing systems. She builds a research methodology upon two of her recent innovations developed through her first NSERC Discovery program on low-power photonic interconnects. In the first invention, she has experimentally demonstrated a high-bandwidth electrical nanoscale waveguide capable of simultaneously supporting modulated optical signals leading to a potentially important paradigm shift in data communication where metal transmission lines can be used electrically for control signals and optically for large data transfer. In her second invention, Dr. Liboiron-Ladouceur has demonstrated the feasibility of integrated interconnection network architectures on a single chip downsizing architecture by a factor of a thousand from m2 to mm2 leading to bandwidth density enhancement. The objective of the research program is to develop computer architectures with enhanced bandwidth density in the interconnectivity between processors. The multi-disciplinary research program offers and excellent training platform for a total of 27 students, which includes 10 undergraduates, 9 master's, 5 doctoral, and 3 postdoctoral students. The budget leverages advanced training opportunities in photonic integration offered by an NSERC CREATE program along with contributions from McGill University. Thus, the amount requested represents 45% of the proposed expenditure.