A hybrid optical packet and wavelength selective switching platform for high-performance data center networks

Lin Xu; Wenjia Zhang; Hugo L R Lira; Michal Lipson; Keren Bergman

doi:10.1364/OE.19.024258

A hybrid optical packet and wavelength selective switching platform for high-performance data center networks

Opt Express. 2011 Nov 21;19(24):24258-67. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.024258.

Authors

Lin Xu¹, Wenjia Zhang, Hugo L R Lira, Michal Lipson, Keren Bergman

Affiliation

¹ Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA. lx2140@columbia.edu

PMID: 22109452
DOI: 10.1364/OE.19.024258

Abstract

We propose and experimentally demonstrate for the first time a hybrid optical packet and wavelength selective switching platform for high-performance data center networks. This architecture based on cascaded silicon microrings and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) supports wavelength reconfigurable packet and circuit switching, and is highly scalable, energy efficient and potentially integratable. By combining the wavelength-selective behavior of the microring and the broadband behavior of the SOA switch, we are able to achieve fast switching transitions, high extinction ratios, and low driving voltages, which are all requirements for future optical high-performance data center networks. Routing correctness and error-free operation (<10(-12)) are verified for both 10-Gb/s and 40-Gb/s packets and streaming data with format transparency.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amplifiers, Electronic*
Computer Communication Networks / instrumentation*
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Lenses*
Optical Devices*
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*