Graph based signal processing for optical networks

The PhD project will explore using graph based signal processing for the design
of future optical networks, where IP routing is cognisant of the underpinning physical
layer. The project will include both theory and simulation with the student required to
create a highly flexible simulation framework to analyse the NP complete problem of
routing in optical networks. The resulting simulator will utilise knowledge of the
physical layer (fibre parameters, optical amplifier characteristics as well as the
transceiver characteristics) to enable routing using a combination of space and
wavelength domains. The simulator will incorporate the heterogenous nature of real
optical networks (e.g. network flows are not always symmetric and also the traffic matrix
is often weighted towards a few key nodes, such as the international internet exchanges in
the UK network), to define the optimal network architecture for future backbone optical
networks.