Frequency Comb-Injection Locked Coherent Optically-Switched Transceivers for Intra-Data Centre Networks

Project Information

COINCOST

Grant agreement ID: 101032236

DOI

10.3030/101032236

Project closed

EC signature date 13 April 2021

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - COINCOST (Frequency Comb-Injection Locked Coherent Optically-Switched Transceivers for Intra-Data Centre Networks)

Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2023-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

This project aims to develop coherent optically switched transceivers by investigating and optimising optical frequency comb and optical injection locking techniques that address the technical challenges of latency, switching time and capacity. The over all objective is to enable a fast optical switching and coherent transmission low end-to-end latency for intra-data centre networks. It develops wavelength tunable lasers and mode locked lasers on a monolithic integrated platform as building block devices for data centre interconnects. It investigates new pathway towards a green data centre infrastructure that underpins modern ICT. Potentially providing the society with faster internet, more efficient cloud infrastructure with lower power consumption (thus greener ICT).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Develop the key building blocks based on monolithic integrated platform. Specifically, the project designed and tested wavelength switched laser with low linewidth that is needed for the proposed coherent switching systems. It also designed mode-locked lasers that enable parallel optical wavelength generation for more efficient optical transceivers. Two conference papers have been published during this period on device design and test.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Going beyond, the fellow has left academia to join industry to push forward the technology in photonic integrated circuit foundry. The host institute is continuing research to investigate devices' performance in a full system as well as in optically-switched data centre networks in collaboration with industrial partners, including Microsoft.

designed mode locked laser imaging

microscope photo of the designed tunable laser