Dynamic and reconfigurable data centre networks with modular optical subsystems

Project Information

DYNAMOS

Grant agreement ID: 101070342

DOI

10.3030/101070342

EC signature date 20 July 2022

Start date 1 August 2022

End date 30 April 2027

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 6 024 476,25

EU contribution

€ 4 663 334,00

Coordinated by

TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DYNAMOS (Dynamic and reconfigurable data centre networks with modular optical subsystems)

Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2025-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

DYNAMOS develops fast (1 ns) and widely tunable (>110 nm) lasers, energy-efficient (~ fJ/bit), broadband (100 GHz) electro-optic modulators, and high-speed (1 ns) broadcast-and-select packet switches as photonic integrated circuits (PICs). DYNAMOS meets the expected outcome objectives and call scope by proposing the development of low energy (few pJ/bit) PICs, which are integrated into modular and scalable subsystems, and subsequently utilized to demonstrate novel data centre networks with highly deterministic sub-microsecond latency to enable maximum congestion reduction, full bisection bandwidth (lower congestion) and guaranteed quality of service while reducing cost per Gbps.

The proposed network offers optical circuit switched reconfiguration and guaranteed (contentionless) full-bisection bandwidth, allowing any computational node to communicate to any other node at full-capacity. DYNAMOS builds on recent developments in III-V optoelectronics, thick silicon-on-insulator waveguide technology, and silicon organic hybrid (SOH) modulators. It co-develops the entire ecosystem of transceivers, switches and networks to boost overall performance and to reducing the total cost of data exchange, instead of focusing on the improvement of individual optical links or interfaces. The objectives of DYNAMOS perfectly match the major photonics research & innovations challenges defined in the Photonics21 Multiannual Strategic Roadmap 2021-2027.

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

The project has made significant progress in developing the building blocks of the DYNAMOS architecture, such as semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), tunable reflectors based on the 3 µm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) and star couplers in SiN, and silicon-organic-hybrid (SOH) modulators. These components have been fabricated and tested individually or in combination, demonstrating high performance and compatibility with the hybrid integration platform. The DYNAMOS network’s design goals and criteria were established to create a scalable network architecture and to test the effectiveness of the suggested approaches using simulations and testbeds. In addition, the project has planned the integration of the components into Dynamic Inline Photonic Subsystems (DIPS) cards, which are the basic units of the DYNAMOS architecture, enabling dynamic and programmable control of the network configuration and traffic routing.

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)

Silicon-organic-hybrid (SOH) modulators have already reached beyond the state-of-the-art in the combination of large bandwidth, low driving voltage, low power consumption and low optical loss. Asymmetric directional couplers were demonstrated to offer ultra-broadband operation well beyond the requirements of the project. Other component development activities are making good progress, but didn't yet reach clearly beyond the state-of-the-art.