Photonics-based real-time signal analysis and processing for 5G fiber-optics telecommunication networks

该项目致力于开发关键信号分析和处理技术，以在光接入网中实现5G范式（及以后），光接入网是连接服务提供商和最终用户的网络段。下一代通信系统应该能够满足不断增长的传输容量需求，同时提供大大增加的敏捷性和多功能性，例如，能够快速适应不断变化的网络条件。这需要开发具有实时能力（带宽高达~100 GHz）和极低延迟（低至亚微秒范围）的低成本和节能的信号分析和处理工具。目前的解决方案，如基于数字信号处理的解决方案，无法轻松扩展以实现这种具有挑战性的性能规格组合。这个为期3年的项目目标是INRS-EMT和Fonex数据系统公司（Fonex）之间的合作研究工作，旨在提出和开发创新的模拟光子处理解决方案，以实现光接入网中的关键物理层功能，在实时操作带宽、成本和能源效率以及可扩展性方面提供实现5G范式所需的一套性能规范。需要实现的具体功能包括：(1)光纤链路活动的实时监测和分析，(2)传入数据信号的动态去噪放大，以及(3)全光任意色散补偿。为了实现这一目标，我们计划利用一个简单但功能强大的实时模拟信号处理框架，包括沿时间和频域对相关光信号的相位曲线进行智能线性处理。该项目的核心工作将致力于实现紧凑集成波导器件的最终设计，例如，使用CMOS兼容的硅光子芯片。所产生的专门知识和对高素质人员的培训将使加拿大在宽带通信技术和系统方面处于领先地位。

This project pursues the development of critical signal analysis and processing technologies for realization of the 5G paradigm (and beyond) in optical access networks, which is the segment of the network that connects service providers to end users. Next-generation communication systems should be able to fulfill the ever-growing transmission capacity demand while offering a greatly increased agility and versatility, e.g., enabling fast adaptability to the changing network conditions. This requires the development of cost- and energy-efficient signal analysis and processing tools with real-time capabilities (over bandwidths up to ~100 GHz) and extremely low latencies (down to the sub-microsecond range). Present solutions, such as those based upon digital signal processing, cannot be easily scaled to achieve this challenging combination of performance specifications. This 3-year project targets a collaborative research effort between the INRS-EMT and Fonex Data Systems Inc. (FONEX), towards the proposal and development of innovative analog photonic processing solutions for realization of key physical-layer functionalities in optical access networks, offering the needed set of performance specifications for realization of the 5G paradigm, in terms of real-time operation bandwidth, cost- and energy-efficiency as well as scalability. Specific functionalities to be pursued include: (i) real-time monitoring and analysis of the optical fiber link activity, (ii) on-the-fly denoising amplification of the incoming data signals, and (iii) all-optical arbitrary chromatic dispersion compensation. Towards this aim, we plan to utilize a simple but powerful real-time analog signal processing framework involving smart linear manipulations of the phase profiles of the relevant optical signals, along the time and frequency domains. A central effort of the project will be devoted to realization of the resulting designs in compact integrated-waveguide devices, e.g., using CMOS compatible silicon-photonic chips. The generated know-how and the training of highly-qualified personnel will place Canada in a leading position in broadband communication technologies and systems.