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Data in Optical Domain-Network (DOD-N)
Program Manager: Dr. Michael Haney
Vision Statement
The objective of this program is to demonstrate technology for a dynamic routing and packet switching optical Network that keeps Data in the Optical Domain (DOD-N), thus eliminating the need for any Optical-to-Electrical-to-Optical (OEO) conversions, as well as removing other bottlenecks in the current communications systems.
The focus of the program will be to demonstrate the physical layer technologies (hardware) that will be essential for the realization of such DOD-N networks, including a highly scalable optical data router (ODR) consisting of a chip-scale integrated optical data plane (ODP), ultimately with single or multiple monolithic chips, interfaced with a control plane that may employ traditional electronics.
A major goal of the program is to demonstrate such ODRs for different types of nodes with high throughput, multiple input/output ports, high signal integrity, high signal-to-noise ratio and high scalability. Additional goals of the DOD-N Program are to investigate and optimize the architecture and protocols for a network of such ODRs, internal architecture and protocols for ODRs for different types of nodes, the impact of these architectures and protocols on hardware specifications and vice versa, and potential applications
Overview
For the development of dynamic routing and packet switching networks that keep data in the optical domain, the major focus will be in the following areas:
1. Optical Data Router (ODR)
The first major area of interest of the DOD-N Program is the development and demonstration of highly scalable greater than 100 terabits per second (Tb/s)) optical data routers (ODRs) for the access, edge and core nodes of a Wave Division Multiplexing network with a chip-scale integrated optical data plane (ODP), ultimately with a single or multiple monolithic chips. The data must remain in the optical domain (no Optical-to-Electrical (O/E) or Electrical-to-Optical (E/O) conversions). The control and management plane can employ traditional electronics, but fast management (e.g. bit by bit) at the physical layer will employ all-photonic techniques. Interface between the optical data plane and the (electronic) control plane must be developed. Technologies underlying an optical data router include, but are not limited to, ultra-fast photonic switch fabric, ultra-fast photonic logic for synchronization, header/label processing and other applications, multi-wavelength optical regenerators, wavelength converters, optical add-drop multiplexers, optical isolators, optical monitoring, control plane electronics, optical delay lines on a chip, and optical random access memory.
2) Architectures for DOD-N Networks
The second major area of interest is to investigate and optimize the architecture for DOD-N optical routing and packet-switching network. Architectures and protocols need to be investigated and optimized for the overall network connecting many ODRs, and the impact of these on the hardware specifications for the ODRs and vice versa needs to be examined for the benefit of both the areas of interest. Architecture and protocols for the individual nodes, including communication between the optical data plane and the control plane, also need to be investigated and optimized. Architectures with limited buffers need to be investigated.