The 'ACCESS' Project: Network Access in Optical Communications Systems.

Researchers in the Engineering Department of Cambridge University have developed techniques for real-time phase-only holography utilising Liquid Crystal over Silicon (LCoS) technology. This appears to be the most versatile method of optical switching available. It makes possible scalable low-loss multicasting, wavefront control and even programmable control of noise fields. Because it combines a number of functions into a single flexible, programmable module and enables real-time configuration and network management, the holographic LCoS module has significant advantages over competing technologies. As the bandwidth requirements of telecommunications networks increase, optical fibres will be deployed nearer to the customer which will require each neighbourhood or building complex to have such an optical interconnect, providing a large potential market for the module.Previous work by the applicants led to the first LCoS device designed for operation in the telecommunications c-band. This proposal is intended to develop the LCoS research devices and incorporate the technology into a functional demonstrator.