Real-Time, self-referenced complex-field characterization of ultrahigh-speed optical telecommunication data signals

这一为期三年的战略项目涉及开发一套全面和实用的超高速光信号表征工具集，包括宽带光纤电信网络中实时监控应用所需的所有关键性能规范。拟议的理论和实验研究将使INRS-EMT和渥太华大学的两个大学团队与他们的非学术合作伙伴(EXFO Inc.和CRC)合作，领导加拿大和国际努力寻找对未来无处不在的、完全可重新配置的光纤和光纤无线宽带“智能”网络的部署至关重要的高性价比、高性能、实时的光信号监测解决方案。建议的全线性光信号表征工具集将由两个不同的基本超快全光信号处理器构成，这两个处理器是相关研究团队最近率先开发的，即(1)超快光子微分器；(2)超快光子积分器。该项目将开发的技术的一些重要特点是：(I)它们的实施将基于集成波导光子技术；(Ii)它们将是自参考的，从而避免了与使用光学参考相关的关键挑战；以及(Iii)它们将允许实现单次光学信号表征，这是实时监测实际网络环境中遇到的随机超高速光学数据流的基本特征。我们设计方法的灵活性和可以实现我们的概念的光子技术的成熟度很可能导致性价比和可大规模重现的特征，这是成功商业化的先决条件。最后，这一项目产生的新知识以及与这项工作的不同阶段相关的高素质人员的培训必将有助于提高加拿大的全球竞争力，特别是在高技术领域。

This three-year Strategic Project is concerned with the development of a comprehensive and practical toolset for ultrahigh-speed optical signal characterization comprising all the key performance specifications that are required for real-time monitoring applications in broadband fiber-optic telecommunication networks. The proposed theoretical and experimental research will allow the two university teams from INRS-EMT and University of Ottawa, in collaboration with their non-academic partners (EXFO Inc. and CRC), to lead Canadian and international efforts in searching for cost-effective, high-performance, real-time optical signal monitoring solutions of essential importance for the future deployment of ubiquitous, fully-reconfigurable optical and fiber-wireless broadband "intelligent" networks. The proposed all-linear optical signal characterization toolset will be constructed from two different fundamental ultrafast all-optical signal processors, which have been recently pioneered by the involved research team, namely (1) ultrafast photonic differentiators; and (2) ultrafast photonic integrators. Some important distinctive features of the techniques to be developed in this project are: (i) their implementation will be based on integrated-waveguide photonic technologies; (ii) they will be self-referenced, thus avoiding the crucial challenges associated with the use of an optical reference; and (iii) they will allow achieving single-shot optical signal characterization, an essential feature for real-time monitoring of the random ultrafast optical data streams to be encountered in a practical network environment. The flexibility of our design approach and the maturity of the photonic technologies in which our concepts can be implemented may well lead to the cost/performance and mass-reproducible characteristics which are prerequisite to successful commercialization. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in high-technology sectors.