Multi-Tbps Optical Interconnects (MuTOI)
Research Project, 2014
– 2019
The exponential increase of internet traffic and computing capacity is driving the demand for optical interconnect (OI) bandwidth, bandwidth density, and energy efficiency to unprecedented levels. While scaling of current technologies will satisfy the demands in the short term, radically new concepts and solutions are needed in the long term to enable multi-Tbps OIs, more complex OI architectures, a migration closer to the on-board silicon circuits, and significant energy savings. It is the purpose to enable such progress by bringing together leading expertise in optoelectronics, electronics, and optical communication to advance the state-of-the-art of OIs based on vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and multimode fiber. We will develop new generations of devices and circuits for higher speed and more efficient transceivers, VCSEL arrays for new OI architectures based on space and wavelength division multiplexing, and apply more bandwidth efficient modulation formats and new electronic compensation techniques. Technology transfer and early exploitation of results is facilitated by close collaboration with Swedish industry and their active participation. We aim at demonstrating single channel OIs at 56 Gbps using binary modulation and 100 Gbps using multi-level modulation at an energy dissipation <1 pJ/bit. When applied to more advanced parallel OI architectures, enabled by the VCSEL arrays, this will allow for multi-Tbps aggregate interconnect capacities.
Participants
Anders Larsson (contact)
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics
Peter Andrekson
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics
Herbert Zirath
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
Funding
Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)
Project ID: SE13-0014
Funding Chalmers participation during 2014–2019
Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure
Information and Communication Technology
Areas of Advance
Sustainable development
Driving Forces
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Areas of Advance
Nanofabrication Laboratory
Infrastructure