Smallest Integrated Networks for Highest Data Density

数据的指数级增长继续推动世界各地的重要社会变革。从科学模拟到消费电子产品，数据处理不仅让我们开心，更重要的是拯救了生命，影响了经济增长。然而，世界上许多地方的基础设施薄弱，或无法负担现代计算系统的高昂费用。事实上，为了满足对数据处理和存储的高需求，具有数千个处理器的复杂系统通过电气开关并行互连工作，固有地限制了它们在性能方面的长期可扩展性。随着光子集成的最新进展，电互连可以用光学技术代替。该计划解决了光子学的系统集成，以实现高数据密度。预期的研究成果将导致实际的可扩展性与现代计算机系统的性能增强。此外，随着性能的提高，价格下降使得这些现代计算系统更容易进入世界各地，包括加拿大偏远地区，在那里能源不容易获得，以处理采矿业或支持北方社区所需的大量数据。Liboiron-Ladouceur博士的建议是调查基于CMOS的光互连异构计算系统中最高片上带宽密度的基本限制。她建立了一个研究方法，她最近通过她的第一个NSERC发现低功耗光子互连程序开发的两个创新。在第一项发明中，她已经实验性地证明了一种高带宽电纳米级波导，其能够同时支持调制的光信号，从而导致数据通信中潜在的重要范式转变，其中金属传输线可以电地用于控制信号，并且光学地用于大数据传输。在她的第二项发明中，Liboiron-Ladouceur博士已经证明了在单芯片上集成互连网络架构的可行性，该架构将尺寸从m2缩小到mm 2千分之一，从而导致带宽密度增强。该研究计划的目标是开发具有增强处理器之间互连性的带宽密度的计算机架构。该多学科研究项目为27名学生提供了良好的培养平台，其中包括10名本科生，9名硕士生，5名博士生和3名博士后。该预算利用了NSERC CREATE计划提供的光子集成高级培训机会，并由麦吉尔大学提供沿着。因此，所要求的数额相当于拟议开支的45%。**

The exponential increase in data continues to force important societal changes across the world. From scientific simulations to consumer electronics, data processing has entertained us, but more importantly saved lives and influenced economical growth. However, many parts of the world have weak infrastructures, or are unable to afford the high cost of modern computing systems. Indeed, to meet the high demand for data processing and storage, complex systems with thousands of processors are working in parallel interconnected through electrical switches, inherently limiting their long term scalability in terms of performance. With recent advancements in photonic integration, the electrical interconnectivity can be replaced with optical technologies. The proposed program addresses the system integration of photonics towards high data density. The expected research outcome will lead to practical scalability with performance enhancement in modern computer systems. Furthermore, price deflation which comes with the increase in performance makes these modern computing systems more accessible to all parts of the world, including remote areas of the Canadian landscape where energy is not easily available to process large amount of data required such as in the mining industry or in supporting the northern communities.******Dr. Liboiron-Ladouceur's proposal is on the investigation of the fundamental limits of the highest on-chip bandwidth density in optically interconnected CMOS-based heterogeneous computing systems. She builds a research methodology upon two of her recent innovations developed through her first NSERC Discovery program on low-power photonic interconnects. In the first invention, she has experimentally demonstrated a high-bandwidth electrical nanoscale waveguide capable of simultaneously supporting modulated optical signals leading to a potentially important paradigm shift in data communication where metal transmission lines can be used electrically for control signals and optically for large data transfer. In her second invention, Dr. Liboiron-Ladouceur has demonstrated the feasibility of integrated interconnection network architectures on a single chip downsizing architecture by a factor of a thousand from m2 to mm2 leading to bandwidth density enhancement. The objective of the research program is to develop computer architectures with enhanced bandwidth density in the interconnectivity between processors. The multi-disciplinary research program offers and excellent training platform for a total of 27 students, which includes 10 undergraduates, 9 master's, 5 doctoral, and 3 postdoctoral students. The budget leverages advanced training opportunities in photonic integration offered by an NSERC CREATE program along with contributions from McGill University. Thus, the amount requested represents 45% of the proposed expenditure. **