MRI: Acquistion of Telecommunications Test Equipment for Research and Training

这项研究的目标是使用空间光谱全息(SSH)技术、高度可调光源和独特的超密集波分复用(UDWDM)技术对新型组件的端到端性能进行系统级测量，这些组件包括超窄线宽激光光源、光学信号处理和光学存储组件。这些新颖的部件利用了蒙大拿州立大学(MSU)在光学材料方面的丰富研究基础，致力于探索光学活性晶体和新兴有机材料。这些材料和部件将用于开发新的系统架构，以同时利用时间、空间和频谱领域，以实现通信网络容量和灵活性的数量级增长。该项目使密歇根州立大学能够为本科生和研究生、博士后和研究人员提供使用最先进的光网络测试设备和方法的系统级培训。密歇根州立大学有着将研究与教学相结合的强大传统，在学年期间通过高级设计项目吸引本科生，并在学年和夏季参与赞助研究。密歇根州立大学有几个活跃的REU项目，让学生参与设备和系统层面的研究活动。密歇根州立大学REU项目积极从蒙大拿州的部落学院寻找美国原住民学生，工程学院由休利特基金会资助，以招收和保留美国原住民本科工程专业学生。这笔仪器津贴利用了这些其他计划，提供了额外的教育机会。

The objective of this research is to perform system-level measurements of end-to-end performance of novel components including ultra-narrow line width laser sources, optical signal processing and optical memory components using spatial-spectral holography (SSH) techniques, highly-tunable light sources, and unique ultra-dense wavelength division multiplexing (UDWDM) techniques. These novel components leverage a rich research foundation in optical materials at Montana State University (MSU) dedicated to the exploration of optically active crystals and emerging organic materials. These materials and components will be used to develop new system architectures to simultaneous exploit temporal, spatial and spectral domains to achieve orders of magnitude increases in the capacity and flexibility of communications networks. This project enables MSU to provide system-level training to undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral students, and research staff in the use of state-of-the-art optical network test equipment and methodology. MSU has a strong tradition of combining research and teaching, engaging undergraduates through senior-level design projects during the academic year and participation in sponsored research in the academic year and over the summers. MSU has several active REU programs that engage students in device and system level research activities. The MSU REU programs actively seek out Native American students from the Tribal Colleges in Montana, and the College of Engineering is funded by the Hewlett Foundation to recruit and retain Native American undergraduate engineering students. This instrumentation grant leverages these other programs, providing additional educational opportunities.