This paper summarizes our recent studies on architecture, photonic integration, system validation and networking performance analysis of a flexible low-latency interconnect optical network switch (Flex-LIONS) for datacenter and high-performance computing (HPC) applications. Flex-LIONS leverages the all-to-all wavelength routing property in arrayed waveguide grating routers (AWGRs) combined with microring resonator (MRR)-based add/drop filtering and multi-wavelength spatial switching to enable topology and bandwidth reconfigurability to adapt the interconnection to different traffic profiles. By exploiting the multiple free spectral ranges of AWGRs, it is also possible to provide reconfiguration while maintaining minimum-diameter all-to-all interconnectivity. We report experimental results on the design, fabrication, and system testing of 8×8 silicon photonic (SiPh) Flex-LIONS chips demonstrating error-free all-to-all communication and reconfiguration exploiting different free spectral ranges (FSR0 and FSR1, respectively). After reconfiguration in FSR1, the bandwidth between the selected pair of nodes is increased from 50Gb/s to 125Gb/s while an all interconnectivity at 25Gb/s is maintained using FSR0. Finally, we investigate the use of Flex-LIONS in two different networking scenarios. First, networking simulations for a 256-node datacenter inter-rack communication scenario show the potential latency and energy benefits when using Flex-LIONS for optical reconfiguration based on different traffic profiles (a legacy fat-tree architecture is used for comparison). Second, we demonstrate the benefits of leveraging two FSRs in an 8-node 64-core computing system to provide reconfiguration for the hotspot nodes while maintaining minimum-diameter all-to-all interconnectivity.

A novel adaptive code division multiplexing system with hybrid electrical and optical codes is proposed for flexible and dynamic resource allocation in next generation asynchronous optical access networks. We analyze the performance of a 10Gbps × 12 optical node unit, using hierarchical 8-level optical and 4-level electrical phase shift keying codes.

We review recent progress in integrated photonics devices and their applications for datacom. In addition to current technology used in 100-Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) with a compact form-factor of the transceiver, the next generation of technology for 400GbE seeks a larger number of wavelengths with a more sophisticated modulation format and higher bit rate per wavelength. For wavelength scalability and functionality, planar lightwave circuits (PLCs), such as arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), will be important, as well higher-order-modulation to ramp up the total bit rate per wavelength. We introduce integration technology for a 100GbE optical sub-assembly that has a 4λ x 25-Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) modulation format. For beyond 100GbE, we also discuss applications of 100GbE sub-assemblies that provide 400-Gb/s throughput with 16λ x 25-Gb/s NRZ and bidirectional 8λ x 50-Gb/s four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) using PLC cyclic AWGs.

We fabricated a high-speed wavelength tunable arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and an AWG integrated with optical switches using (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3-(PLZT). PLZT has a high electro-optic (EO) coefficient, which means these devices have considerable potential for use in reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers (ROADMs). The PLZT waveguides in this work have a rib waveguide structure with an effective relative index difference (Δ) of 0.65%. Both AWGs have 8 channels with a frequency spacing of 500 GHz. The fabricated wavelength tunable AWGs allows us to freely shift the output at a particular wavelength to an arbitrary port by applying voltages to 3 mm long electrodes formed on each of the waveguides. We confirmed that the maximum tuning range with driving voltage of 22 V was approximately 32 nm at 1.55 µm. With the integrated 8-ch PLZT waveguide switch array, we could also select the output port by setting the drive voltage applied to the switch array. 2 2 directional coupler switches were used for the switch array. The two devices exhibited insertion losses of 17 dB and 19 dB, adjacent crosstalk of -18.5 dB and -19.7 dB, and a maximum extinction ratio of 19.6 dB and 12.6 dB, respectively. The tuning speed of both devices was 15 ns and their physical sizes were 9.0 23.0 mm and 8.0 29.5 mm, respectively.

This paper reviews our recent progress on arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) using super-high-Δ silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology and their application to integrated optical devices. Factors affecting the chip size of AWGs and the impact of increasing relative index difference Δ on the chip size are investigated, and the fabrication result of a compact athermal AWG using 2.5%-Δ silica-based waveguides is presented. As an application of super-high-Δ AWGs to integrated devices, a flat-passband multi/demultiplexer consisting of an AWG and cascaded MZIs is presented.

A compact arrayed-waveguide grating with small-bend waveguides incorporating air trenches and high mesa structures has been proposed. An 8-channel, 100-GHz-spacing silica arrayed-waveguide grating was fabricated, and its size was reduced dramatically to 1/4 of that of a conventional device.

The growth in the volume of Internet traffic and the increasing variety of Internet applications require Internet backbone networks to be scalable and provided sophisticated quality of service (QoS) capabilities. Internet backbone routers have evolved to achieve sub-Tbps switching capacity in a single unit, but their switch architectures have limited scalability, causing QoS to degrade as the switches get bigger. Hence, we propose a large-scale IP and lambda integrated router architecture with scalable switches. We first describe the system architecture of our proposed backbone router and clarify the requirements for its switching capabilities to meet near-future demands. The new switch architecture, using crossbar-based switching fabrics and optical interconnection devices, meets the requirements for a backbone router to scale up to 82 Tbps and enable light path switching as well as packet switching. The routing tag and its usage algorithm in the switch, and packaging issues, including the quantity of hardware required for expansion, are also discussed.

In this paper, a novel flexible photonic microwave filter architecture based on the use of laser arrays and the periodicity of N N arrayed waveguide gratings (AWG) optical response is proposed. Independent filter response coarse and fine tuning as well as reshaping of each transversal filter response have been experimentally demonstrated showing an excellent agreement with theory.

We have reviewed recent progress on arrayed waveguide gratings for DWDM applications. AWGs can be used to realize not only mux/demux filters with various channel spacings, but also highly integrated optical components.

This paper describes the design of polarization insensitive InP-based arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), and the characteristics of fabricated devices. The use of a deep-ridge waveguide structure made the fabrication of compact polarization-insensitive AWGs possible. As a result, a low crosstalk (-30 dB) 8-channel AWG and a large-scale (64 channel) AWG with 50 GHz channel spacing could be fabricated. An integrated circuit containing an 8-channel AWG with photodetectors is also described.

Recently, a wavelength division multi/demultiplexing system has been viewed with keen interest because it is possible to increase the transmission capacity and system flexibility. An arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) type of Multi/demultiplexer which is one of the key components to realize such a system has been developed by using Planar Lightwave Circuits (PLCs). Newly designed optical circuits have been incorporated into the AWG to control the center wavelength and to expand the pass band width. The 3 dB pass band width is 1.4 times that of a conventional AWG. It is confirmed that the newly developed AWG has low polarization dependence, low temperature dependence and high reliability.

Silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) are reviewed in terms of WDM applications. Four types of basic multiplexer are described and compared. Some topical applications of these multiplexers are introduced with their WDM systems. We conclude that because of these various applications, silica-based PLCs will play an important role in future WDM systems.