Reconfigurable Network Routing with Spatial Soliton Crossbar Switches

我们将探索空间孤子在网络信息处理中的全新应用机会。我们的最终目标是实现一种混合、全光/电子、可重构的NxN路由交换机。使用一种全新的概念，我们将在光学上写出明亮的空间孤子，它可以作为自聚焦非线性材料相对两侧任意两点之间的“引导通道”。TDM或WDM信号可以通过这些非衍射通道路由，以互连任意输入和输出信号路径。此外，通过电光控制输入孤子波前倾斜，空间中孤子通道（和信号路径）的角度扫描将被证明可以根据需要将不同的输入连接到不同的输出，即可重构的NxN互连。我们将研究在A1GaAs和双对环芴磺酸盐（PTS）的平面波导中碰撞产生的空间孤子的伪偏转。事实上，我们已经描述了A1GaAs波导的非线性特性，展示了全光开关器件和激发空间孤子。因此，这些波导为所涉及的新概念提供了一个很好的测试平台。与此同时，我们将研究PTS中令人兴奋的空间孤子的可行性（利用BMDO最近颁发的AASERT奖的学生工资）。PTS很重要，因为它具有已知的最大的非谐振非线性，并且将其应用到波导中将导致低功率空间孤子的产生，并最终实现互连。这项工作将与科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的瓦格纳合作完成。＊＊＊

9527241 Stegeman We will explore radical new opportunities for the application of spatial solitons to information manipulation in networks. Our ultimate goal will be to implement a hybrid, all-optical/electronic, reconfigurable NxN routing switch. Using a totally new concept will optically write bright spatial solitons which act as " guiding: channels between any two points on opposite sides of a self-focusing nonlinear material. Either TDM or WDM signals can be routed by these non-diffracting channels to interconnect abitary input and output signal paths. Furthermore, by controlling electro-optically the input soliton wavefront tilt, angular scanning of soliton channels ( and signal paths) in space will be demonstrated for connecting different inputs to different outputs on demand, i.e. a reconfigurable NxN interconnect. We will investigate the spurious deflection of spatial solitons by collisions in planar waveguides of A1GaAs and bis-paratoluene sulfonate (PTS). In fact, we have already characterized the nonlinear properties of A1GaAs waveguides, demonstrated all-optical switching devices and excited spatial solitons. Therefore these waveguides provide an excellent testbed for the new concepts involved. In parallel (with a student salary from a recent AASERT award from BMDO) we will investigate the feasibility of exciting spatial solitons in PTS which we have also recently characterized. PTS is important because it has the largest know nonresonant nonlinearity and its implementation into waveguides will lead to low-power spatial soliton generation, and ultimately interconnects. This work will be done in collaboration with Wagner at the University of Colorado Boulder. ***