High Dimensional Free-space Building-to-Building Link for Last-Mile Communications

我提出了一种为最后一英里全球通信网络提供技术的新方法。高速数据链路是日益一体化的数字经济的核心，每天，越来越多的数据在我们已经过度紧张的通信网络上共享。一个关键的挑战是开发新的高带宽、安全的通信网络，特别是通过互联网。我们每天使用的在线多媒体服务是网络带宽的巨大用户。随着英国多媒体用户的数量每月都在增加，其结果是对可用网络带宽的巨大消耗。即使在标准清晰度下，观看我们最喜欢的电视节目每小时也会使用大约1GB的数据（高清时每小时使用3GB）。除了多媒体，随着基于云的存储和计算成为常态，建立高带宽通信网络将至关重要。核心骨干通信网络定期升级以应对这些需求，然而，将我们的互联网服务带到家庭和办公室的最后一英里网络升级是困难和昂贵的。这种困难来自于这部分网络的分布式特性，以及在未来5-10年内需要进行商业部署的具有成本效益和可持续性的升级解决方案。该项目旨在开发实现高速自由空间最后一英里网络的解决方案。使用携带轨道角动量的光束，单个点对点链接将增加数据携带通道的数量。以这种方式使用轨道角动量是空间复用的一个例子。这些多路复用技术有潜力提供数据速率的成倍增长，同时增加链路的安全性。一个关键的交付成果将是在我们的新校园内开发最后一英里建筑，以建立连接，用于开发和测试新型多路复用和解复用技术的原型。与工业合作伙伴英特尔和康宁合作，解决方案将根据其市场需求开发，允许短期商业应用。这些工业激发的挑战提出了一些关于空间模式长距离传播的基本性质的问题。因此，在克服技术障碍的同时，本项目旨在研究湍流对空间复用光束自由空间传播的影响。在本项目的早期阶段，将在不同的环境设置下进行光学像差和模态交叉耦合的研究。这一重要数据将为设计和发展被动和主动方法提供基础，以克服大气湍流所造成的限制。除了这些挑战之外，还将开发允许集成到当前安装的光纤网络中的技术。原理验证链路将允许现实生活中的用户测试，其中标准互联网服务将在链路上进行演示，旨在提供商业上可行的最后一英里链路设计，作为该项目的关键交付成果。

I propose a new approach to supplying technologies for the last-mile global communication networks.High-speed data links are central to an ever-more integrated digital economy where, every day, more and more data is shared on our already over-stretched communications networks. A key challenge is the development of new high-bandwidth, secure communication networks, particularly through the internet. The online multimedia services we use on a daily basis are huge users of network bandwidth. With the number of multimedia users in the UK increasing on a monthly basis, the result is a huge drain on the available network bandwidth. Even in standard definition, watching our favourite TV show uses around 1GB of data per hour (and 3GB per hour for high definition). Beyond multimedia, as cloud-based storage and computing becoming the norm establishing high-bandwidth communication networks will be vital. Core backbone communication networks are regularly upgraded to deal with these demands, however the last-mile network, which takes our Internet services to homes and offices, is difficult and expensive to upgrade. This difficulty arises from the distributed nature of this portion of the network and solutions for cost effective, and sustainable, upgrades are required to be commercially deployed over the next 5-10 years. This project the aims to develop solutions to implementation of high-speed free-space last-mile networks. Using light beams carrying Orbital Angular Momentum, a single point-to-point link will increase the number of data carrying channels. Using orbital angular momentum in this way is an example of spatial multiplexing. These multiplexing techniques have the potential to offer multiplicative increases in data rates whilst simultaneously increasing the security of the link. A key deliverable will be the development of a last-mile building to building link within our new campus, for the development and testing of prototype novel multiplexing and de-multiplexing technology. Working with Industrial partners Intel and Corning, solutions will be developed in line with their market requirement, allowing near-term commercial uptake.These industry inspired challenges raise some questions about the fundamental nature of long distance propagation of spatial modes. Hence, along with overcoming the technical hurdles this project aims to investigate the effect of turbulence within the free-space propagation of spatially multiplexed beams. In the early stages of this project, studies into the optical aberrations, and modal cross coupling will be carried out in different environmental settings. This vital data will provide a base to design and develop passive, and active approaches to overcoming the limitations imposed by atmospheric turbulence. Further to these challenges, techniques to allow integration into current installed fibre networks will be developed. The proof-of-principle link will allow real life user testing, where standard internet services will be demonstrated over the link, aiming to providing a commercially viable last-mile link design as a key deliverable of the project.