Photonics-based real-time signal analysis and processing for 5G fiber-optics telecommunication networks

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This project pursues the development of critical signal analysis and processing technologies for realization of the 5G paradigm (and beyond) in optical access networks, which is the segment of the network that connects service providers to end users. Next-generation communication systems should be able to fulfill the ever-growing transmission capacity demand while offering a greatly increased agility and versatility, e.g., enabling fast adaptability to the changing network conditions. This requires the development of cost- and energy-efficient signal analysis and processing tools with real-time capabilities (over bandwidths up to ~100 GHz) and extremely low latencies (down to the sub-microsecond range). Present solutions, such as those based upon digital signal processing, cannot be easily scaled to achieve this challenging combination of performance specifications. This 3-year project targets a collaborative research effort between the INRS-EMT and Fonex Data Systems Inc. (FONEX), towards the proposal and development of innovative analog photonic processing solutions for realization of key physical-layer functionalities in optical access networks, offering the needed set of performance specifications for realization of the 5G paradigm, in terms of real-time operation bandwidth, cost- and energy-efficiency as well as scalability. Specific functionalities to be pursued include: (i) real-time monitoring and analysis of the optical fiber link activity, (ii) on-the-fly denoising amplification of the incoming data signals, and (iii) all-optical arbitrary chromatic dispersion compensation. Towards this aim, we plan to utilize a simple but powerful real-time analog signal processing framework involving smart linear manipulations of the phase profiles of the relevant optical signals, along the time and frequency domains. A central effort of the project will be devoted to realization of the resulting designs in compact integrated-waveguide devices, e.g., using CMOS compatible silicon-photonic chips. The generated know-how and the training of highly-qualified personnel will place Canada in a leading position in broadband communication technologies and systems.