Project description
Coherent optical frequency combs for data centres
Cloud data centres are made up of 10s to 100s of thousands of servers. The massive number of servers connected by data centre networks provide cloud storage, computing and big data services, influencing every aspect of our lives. The drastic increase in server-to-server traffic has resulted in architectural and interconnection challenges that limit the scalability of future cloud data centres. The EU-funded COINCOST project will address two challenges. The first is the scaling of the data centre network. The second is the scaling of the data rate of the server-to-server connections. COINCOST will develop new coherent transceivers, enabled by techniques including frequency comb and injection locking, to overcome the limits to efficiency and power consumption.
Objective
Data centres, comprising tens of thousands connected servers, are the underlying technology empowering everything we do online. Driven by cloud computing and big data services, server-to-server traffic in data centres is increasing at an annual rate of 70%. This has motivated the development of 400G Ethernet, which is expected to scale to ≥1.6Tb/s in the future. This increase has resulted in both architectural and interconnection challenges.
The first challenge is the scaling of the data centre network, which is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of servers. This trend has driven research in optical switching as an alternative to electronic switching for its fast switching in nanoseconds. The second challenge is the scaling of the data rate of the server-to-server interconnects. This makes coherent transceivers attractive as they offer higher spectral efficiency than current intensity-modulation direct-detection schemes.
Future intra-data centre interconnects therefore require revolutionary technologies to address both challenges. But commercially available coherent transceivers, which are designed for long-haul, continuous data transmission, cannot meet the requirements for optically-switched data centre interconnects. Technical challenges include fast wavelength tuning, low-latency optical carrier recovery and equalisation.
In COINCOST, I propose to develop coherent optically switched transceivers by designing and optimising frequency comb and injection locking techniques that address these technical challenges. These will be realised in photonic integrated circuits (PIC) in a cost- and power-efficient fashion and demonstrated in systems on the host’s unique platforms.
COINCOST draws on interdisciplinary but complementary expertise from the host, industrial partners, and me, e.g. PIC, DSP, and clock-synchronised data centre networks. COINCOST will open new opportunities for me to lead research and benefit the photonics and communication industry in Europe.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.