High Bit Rate OTDM Link using Polymer All-Optical Switches

Información del proyecto

HIPOS

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: R2012

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de inicio 1 Enero 1992

Fecha de finalización 31 Diciembre 1993

Financiado con arreglo a

• Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of communication technologies, 1990-1994

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Coordinado por

University of Dublin
Ireland

Objetivo

The project is concerned with the development of advanced ultra-fast (2 ps) polymeric all-optical switches. The switches can be demonstrated within a four channel optical time division multiplexed (OTDM) link running at 40 Gbit/s, where they will be used in the demultiplexer to gate-out individual channels. If successful operation is achieved at 40 Gbit/s, the rate will be increased further. The system will employ optical clock pulses derived from mode-locked semiconductor lasers and operate in the third telecom window (1.5 um).
The research is concerned with the development of advanced ultrafast (2 ps) polymeric all optical switches for incorporation into a 4 channel optical time division multiplexed (OTDM) link running at 40 gigabytes per second where they will be used in the demultiplexer to gate out individual channels. The system employs optical clock pulses derived from mode locked semiconducter lasers and operates in the third telecom window (1.5 um).

Three important achievements resulted from the first year of the project:
a packaged and pigtailed polymer, ultrafast, all optical switch has been fabricated. The switch is able to operate in less than 2 ps for gating out pulses in the 40 gigabytes per second OTDM data stream;
a 40 gigabytes per second OTDM system test has been completed;
a new nonlinear optical polymer has been developed with substantially higher nonlinearity which will be used in future switch prototypes to increase further device performance.

Achievements from the second year of the project included:
the demonstration of 40 Gbit/s OTDM transmission with lithium niobate demultiplexing;
fabrication of pigtailed channel waveguide devices in the nonlinear optical polymer poly(3BCMU) with a fibre to fibre insertion loss of less then 6 dB and an integrated optical 4-wave mixer with a cross talk of 19 dB (these devices are being tested);
development of a new nonlinear optical polymer which has a third order nonlinearity which is 8 times greater than that of poly(3BCMU) at 1.55 um wavelength.

OTDM provides a means of substantially increasing capacity on heavily used routes and it is planned to exploit the system being developed for this purpose. OTDM is transparent to any communication protocols used within multiplexed channels. The demultiplexed data is available directly in optical form for local distribution without requiring electrical optical conversion. The technique is therefore compatible with current technology.
Technical Approach

The polymeric all-optical switch demonstrated in RACE I is being developed into an advanced prototype incorporating improved non-linear polymer, channel waveguide geometry and fibre pigtails. This work includes materials research aimed at improving the optical properties of existing materials and developing new materials. During the switch development, intermediate prototypes will be constructed and characterised on the OTDM system testbed.

Key Issues

- Materials development.
- Device development.
- OTDM system construction.
- Integration of switches into system.

Expected Impact

OTDM provides a means of substantially increasing capacity on heavily used routes and it is planned to exploit the system being developed for this purpose. OTDM is transparent to any communication protocols used within multiplexed channels. The de-multiplexed data is available directly in optical form for local distribution without requiring electrical-optical conversion. The technique is therefore compatible with current technology.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › química inorgánica › metales alcalinos
• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › ciencia de polímeros
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › electromagnetismo y electrónica › dispositivo semiconductor
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › física cuántica › óptica cuántica
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › óptica › física del láser

Programa(s)

• FP3-RACE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of communication technologies, 1990-1994

Tema(s)

Datos no disponibles

Convocatoria de propuestas

Datos no disponibles

Régimen de financiación

Datos no disponibles

Coordinador

University of Dublin

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: TRINITY COLLEGE, ; 2 Dublin ; Irlanda
• Coste total: Sin datos

Participantes (4)

British Telecom plc (BT)

Reino Unido

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: British Telecom Laboratories Martlesham Heath ; IP5 7RE Ipswich
• Coste total: Sin datos

ERA Technology Ltd

Reino Unido

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Cleeve Road ; KT22 7SA Leatherhead
• Coste total: Sin datos

IROE

Italia

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Via Panciatichi 64 ; 50127 Firenze
• Coste total: Sin datos

Istituto Guido Donegani SpA

Italia

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Via S. Salvo 1 ; 20097 San Donato Milanese
• Coste total: Sin datos