Stream 2: Data Centres
Novel Optical Transceivers for DCI relying on Analogue Optical Signal Processing
Ioannis Tomkos, University of Patras
In the evolving era of AI, there is an urgent need to scale-up the bit-rates of optical transceivers (TRx) utilized for intra/inter datacenter interconnection while reducing their power consumption per bit. This need can be met by replacing eventually some of the conventional power-hungry electronics-based Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and DACs/ADCs circuitry from the optical transceivers by “Analogue Optical Signal Processing” (AOSP). This evolution path aligns well with the “Linear Pluggable Optics” (LPO) trend for DCI TRx. Within the framework of European funded R&D projects FLEX-SCALE & PROTEUS, we are developing novel AOSP TRx subsystems, like e.g. optical-DACs (“oDACs”), all-optical chromatic dispersion and differential group delay compensators/equalizers, all-optical polarization demultiplexers.
In this presentation, we will introduce our novel approaches for next generation DCI interconnects based on Programmable Integrated Photonics (PIP) principles for implementation of either i) AOSP-enabled Dual-Polarization Intensity-Modulated/Direct-Detection (DP-IM/DD), and ii) Field-Modulated Simplified-Coherent (aka LITE-COH) TRx versions, respectively. Comparison of the advantages against commercially available and other emerging TRx designs that were recently proposed in the literature by major academic groups and startups will also be showcased.
3D-Printed Photonics
Prof. Dan Marom / Photonics Devices Lab / Institute of Applied Physics / The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
3D-Nanoprinting via direct laser writing (DLW) in photopolymers exhibiting two-photon polymerization enables precise fabrication of complex micro- and nano-structures. We exploit this writing capability to define various light manipulating and waveguiding structures and the ability of fabricating them on various substrates for their use in diverse applications. We achieve high-fidelity 3D photonic structures, such as waveguides, resonators, and metamaterials, and explore their use in integrated optics, sensing, and telecommunications
Optical Signal Processing for Data Center Interconnects
Sarah Masaad, imec/Ghent University
As optical networks push toward higher speeds and greater efficiency, traditional digital equalization faces challenges in power consumption and latency. Integrated photonics offers new possibilities by enabling processing directly in the optical domain, thus reducing the load on DSP. This talk explores photonic reservoir computing as a hardware-efficient equalization approach implemented on integrated photonic circuits. The talk will highlight recent results demonstrating performance gains, discuss the implications for scalable and wavelength-multiplexed optical processing, and outline how these concepts can support next-generation data-center interconnects.