Planar waveguide technology for photonic networks
Interconnected via public Wide Area Networks (WAN) or a private network provider, Customer Premises Networks (CPNs) may form corporate networks for communication. The widespread deployment of Internet communications coupled by the proliferation of multimedia has accelerated the need for more robust transport technologies. The fast evolving new photonic technologies along with the existing switching/multiplexing/routing transport techniques could provide the necessary solutions for high performance corporate networks. Despite its simplicity, this idea is difficult to implement because of the high related costs. Within this context, this project developed new advanced cost-effective technology for establishing the necessary infrastructure for next generation corporate networks. The key objective was to accomplish a backbone network structure for broadband data transferring. This could offer increased savings associated with the development, management and technical support of one network instead of many. Offering increased capabilities for high bandwidth networking optical fibres were found the best means for data transport. In order to boost the overall data rate in the optical link, the project exploited various multiplexing techniques. As such the Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) offers the use of more channels per fibre by employing different wavelengths for data transport. This optimal usage of fibre capacity allows enhanced network flexibility as well as control and management. For this photonic networking, the project developed inexpensive silicon planar lightwave technology. This exploits a high refractive index contrast achievable in waveguides formed by SiON. Several planar lightwave components, including WDM tunable add-drop filters, multiplexers and demultiplexers, have been generated. All these are expected to reduce the optical losses and to resolve communication bottlenecks in high-speed communication systems. Essentially, they could achieve significant reductions in hardware and maintenance costs that would open the route for adopting photonic technologies in the CPN environment.
