Towards Manufacturing of "Massive WDM" Metro (ToM3)
Lead Research Organisation:
Aston University
Department Name: College of Engineering and Physical Sci
Abstract
The aim of this manufacturing fellowship is to address the technology, architecture, performance and manufacturing needs of next generation optical communications systems for metro networks. Optical metro networks are undergoing tremendous growth as an unprecedented change in the distribution of network traffic, driven by requirements to ensure a superior quality of service to the end-user, leads to the concentration and localisation of traffic.
The programme targets two specific network functions: compact, scalable and power-efficient multi-carrier "super-channel" transceivers at baud rates of 28-32Gbaud and above, and scalable, wide-band (120nm), segmented discrete Raman optical fibre amplifiers. Innovative product processes enabled by digital coherent technology and DSP-based monitoring of key transceiver parameters will be explored to address manufacturing yield and extended test times for arrayed transceivers. Novel designs will be developed to minimise bend losses, manual interventions, and to take advantage of robotic assembly, thereby introducing the required consistency in critical assembly processes for segmented amplifier manufacture.
New equipment architectures and software-enabled re-purposing will be explored, focussed on energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, longevity, and manufacturability. System performance will be evaluated in detailed numerical models of target networks serving great metropolises like Greater London, and compared with extensive laboratory tests in recirculating loop and extended optical fibre test beds.
The programme targets two specific network functions: compact, scalable and power-efficient multi-carrier "super-channel" transceivers at baud rates of 28-32Gbaud and above, and scalable, wide-band (120nm), segmented discrete Raman optical fibre amplifiers. Innovative product processes enabled by digital coherent technology and DSP-based monitoring of key transceiver parameters will be explored to address manufacturing yield and extended test times for arrayed transceivers. Novel designs will be developed to minimise bend losses, manual interventions, and to take advantage of robotic assembly, thereby introducing the required consistency in critical assembly processes for segmented amplifier manufacture.
New equipment architectures and software-enabled re-purposing will be explored, focussed on energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, longevity, and manufacturability. System performance will be evaluated in detailed numerical models of target networks serving great metropolises like Greater London, and compared with extensive laboratory tests in recirculating loop and extended optical fibre test beds.
Planned Impact
ToM3 will be of benefit to the researchers in existing UK based photonic industries including, for example, Oclaro, II-VI, Fujitsu, Polatis, Xtera, and BT. Additionally, by leveraging advances in component research and via innovations in system design and manufacturing, it aims to enable a platform for potential exploitation in new start-up companies when the timing is right.
The programme will be transformational because it will focus not on the delivery of the greatest capacity, longest reach or highest spectral efficiency, using best-in-class, ultra-high performance photonic components, but on approaches leading to the most cost-effective, scalable, energy-efficient and re-useable solutions. This focus is also timely because the underlying structure of future metro optical transceivers, based on dual-polarisation in-phase and quadrature modulators, integrated coherent receivers, and DSP ASIC has been established and universally agreed. Therefore, there is huge activity worldwide to provide these technologies using various technology platforms. Not only, therefore, is there a huge opportunity to take the next generational step in moving to arrayed transceivers and segmented amplifiers, as set out in our Case for Support, but we believe current target requirements, guided by legacy products and applications, lead to overly conservative component and sub-system specifications, and inefficient overall system designs. Our holistic approach to network equipment design, specific to the rapidly growing metro market, and taking advantage of ever-improving capabilities of DSP, will enable a radical redefinition of these requirements and a new approach to efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
Within the UK, there is a large, internationally leading community of university based researchers in optical devices, circuits and sub-systems, but in the absence of a large network equipment manufacturer, no local outlet in optical communication systems level for these activities. This fellowship research programme aims to address this "gaping hole" by providing a systems-led focus on requirements and specifications, focussed on direct industrial applications in a new generation of metro optical networks, associated product development processes, and smart manufacturing.
The specific pathways to impact activities associated with the project have been outlined in the "Pathways to Impact" attachment.
The programme will be transformational because it will focus not on the delivery of the greatest capacity, longest reach or highest spectral efficiency, using best-in-class, ultra-high performance photonic components, but on approaches leading to the most cost-effective, scalable, energy-efficient and re-useable solutions. This focus is also timely because the underlying structure of future metro optical transceivers, based on dual-polarisation in-phase and quadrature modulators, integrated coherent receivers, and DSP ASIC has been established and universally agreed. Therefore, there is huge activity worldwide to provide these technologies using various technology platforms. Not only, therefore, is there a huge opportunity to take the next generational step in moving to arrayed transceivers and segmented amplifiers, as set out in our Case for Support, but we believe current target requirements, guided by legacy products and applications, lead to overly conservative component and sub-system specifications, and inefficient overall system designs. Our holistic approach to network equipment design, specific to the rapidly growing metro market, and taking advantage of ever-improving capabilities of DSP, will enable a radical redefinition of these requirements and a new approach to efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
Within the UK, there is a large, internationally leading community of university based researchers in optical devices, circuits and sub-systems, but in the absence of a large network equipment manufacturer, no local outlet in optical communication systems level for these activities. This fellowship research programme aims to address this "gaping hole" by providing a systems-led focus on requirements and specifications, focussed on direct industrial applications in a new generation of metro optical networks, associated product development processes, and smart manufacturing.
The specific pathways to impact activities associated with the project have been outlined in the "Pathways to Impact" attachment.
Organisations
- Aston University (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Polytechnic University of Turin (Collaboration)
- Oclaro (Collaboration)
- TerOpta (Collaboration)
- II-VI Incorporated (Collaboration)
- Socionext (Collaboration)
- Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Denmark (Collaboration)
- Oclaro (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- II-VI Photonics (UK) (Project Partner)
Publications
Zhang T
(2019)
86-GBaud subcarrier multiplexed 16QAM signal generation using an electrical 90 degree hybrid and IQ mixers.
in Optics express
Zhang T
(2018)
Amplifier-free 200-Gb/s tandem SSB doubly differential QPSK signal transmission over 80-km SSMF with simplified receiver-side DSP.
in Optics express
Tan M.
(2021)
Optimization of Raman Amplification Schemes for Single-Span High Data Rate Coherent Transmission Systems
in 2021 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2021 - Proceedings
Tan M.
(2021)
Optimization of Raman amplification schemes for single-span high data rate coherent transmission systems
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Tan M
(2021)
Raman Amplification Optimization in Short-Reach High Data Rate Coherent Transmission Systems.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Skvortcov P.
(2019)
Transmitter I/Q cross-talk post-compensation using receiver DSP
in IET Conference Publications
Skvortcov P.
(2019)
Receiver DSP highly tolerant to transmitter IQ impairments
in Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Skvortcov P
(2019)
Transmitter I/Q cross-talk post-compensation using receiver DSP
Skvortcov P
(2020)
Nonlinearity Tolerant LUT-Based Probabilistic Shaping for Extended-Reach Single-Span Links
in IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Skvortcov P
(2018)
Transmitter IQ skew calibration in coherent transceivers based on DSP
Skvortcov P
(2021)
Huffman-Coded Sphere Shaping for Extended-Reach Single-Span Links
in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Skvortcov P
(2019)
Receiver DSP highly tolerant to transmitter IQ impairments
Skvortcov P
(2020)
Huffman-Coded Sphere Shaping for Extended-Reach Single-Span Links
Rizzelli G
(2016)
Impact of input FBG reflectivity and forward pump power on RIN transfer in ultralong Raman laser amplifiers.
in Optics express
Renaudier J
(2022)
Devices and Fibers for Ultrawideband Optical Communications
in Proceedings of the IEEE
Nguyen T.T.
(2020)
Artificial Neural Network-Based Compensation for Transceiver Nonlinearity in Probabilistic Shaping Systems
in 2020 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition, OFC 2020 - Proceedings
Napoli A
(2018)
Perspectives of Multi-band Optical Communication Systems
Description | This programme re-opened widespread research interest in a class of all-optical fibre amplifier, based on the Raman effect, that can be used in new generations of so-called Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) optical fibre communication systems that operate outside the normally used C-band (40nm spectral bandwidth). In particular, the research work introduced and explored, numerically and experimentally, the performance of a novel design of dual-stage, discrete Raman amplifier with optical bandwidth of 150nm, covering the so-called S+C+L-bands, exceeding the 120nm targetted. Specific results included assessment of the amplifier performance as it affects high capacity transmisison systems, including gain, gain flatness, noise, linear and nonlinear signal transmission penalties, and the impact of pump-signal overlap. In terms of high speed optical transceivers, the project proposed and demonstrated experimentally the application of advanced techniques to improve tolerance to optical component limitations and optical fibre nonlinearities via pre-distortion methods based on advanced coding, artificial neural networks, digital resolution enhancers and probabilistic shaping, with demonstrations employing dual-polarisation 64-ary quadrature amplitude modulatoin at up to 56Gbaud, well above the 28-32Gbaud originally targetted. |
Exploitation Route | We expect growing interest in discrete Raman amplifiers for next generation UWB systems to be taken forward by manufacturers of specialist optical fibres (such as Corning, Furukawa and OFS) and high power diode pumps lasers (such as Anritsu, Coherent and Furukawa) and ultimately adoped via their supply chains by network equipment manufacturers (such as Nokia, Infinera, Ciena) for use in networks operated by telecommunications providers (such as BT, Orange and Verizon). |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics |
Description | The dual-stage discrete Raman amplifier architecture has been used by UK researchers working with optical sub-system developers at major supplier of optical sub-systems in the far east to develop a high gain, low noise spectral-gain-controlled, broadband lumped fibre Raman amplifier. Driven by our requirements, multiple new types of highly nonlinear Raman gain fibre have been drawn by one of our industry partners. This fiber is being adopted by researchers in a major European network operator for a series of high-capacity, ultra-wide-band experiments planned to demonstrate record bandwidth and data capacities beyond the well-established C-band. The optical pumping requirements of these amplifiers have influenced the high power, laser diode developments at one of our global industry partners. The transceiver work has influenced the activities at research teams at our industry partners in the UK, Germany and the USA. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | (WON) - Wideband Optical Networks |
Amount | € 3,706,317 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 814276 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 12/2022 |
Description | All-Raman optical amplification for next Generation ultra-wideband Optical Networks (ARGON) |
Amount | £978,033 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V000969/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 08/2024 |
Description | Aston SEAS Studentships |
Amount | £56,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Aston University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | EFFECT Photonics / Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Highly Integrated Coherent optical fibre Communications |
Amount | £225,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 08/2026 |
Description | EFFECT Photonics RAEng Chair |
Amount | £95,668 (GBP) |
Organisation | EFFECT Photonics |
Sector | Private |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 08/2026 |
Description | Silicon Photonics for Future Systems |
Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | Studentship |
Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Socionext |
Sector | Private |
Country | Japan |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Studentship |
Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Aston University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 12/2018 |
Description | Studentships |
Amount | £175,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | EFFECT Photonics |
Sector | Private |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | Unrestricted Research Donation |
Amount | $10,000 (USD) |
Organisation | Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 08/2020 |
End | 12/2025 |
Title | Data underpinning article "86-GBaud subcarrier multiplexed 16QAM signal generation using an electrical 90 degree hybrid and IQ mixers" |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data underpinning article "Characterisation of Linear and Nonlinear Noise of a Dual-Stage Broadband Discrete Raman Amplifier" |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Data underpinning article "Characterisation of Linear and Nonlinear Noise of a Dual-Stage Broadband Discrete Raman Amplifier" |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Noise performance improvement of broadband discrete Raman amplifiers using dual stage distributed pumping architecture |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | RIN Induced Penalties in G.654.E and G.652.D Based Distributed Raman Amplifiers for Coherent Transmission Systems |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://researchdata.aston.ac.uk/id/eprint/514 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with DTU |
Organisation | Technical University of Denmark |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of experimental setup of discrete Raman amplifier for joint work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of expertise in machine learning methods and visitng personnel to Aston for collorative working. |
Impact | Journals paper, knowledge exchange, relationship building. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with II-VI Inc (Dr Ian McClean) |
Organisation | II-VI Incorporated |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Preliminary design, construction, and measurements on discrete Raman amplifier |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of pump lasers. |
Impact | First results submitted to UK conference. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with MERL |
Organisation | Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Laboratory facilities and experimental expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Numerical modelling capabilities and expert knowledge in FEC, probabilistic constellation shaping, sphere shaping, and related matters. |
Impact | Two journal papers published by IEEE. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with Oclaro Technology Ltd (Dr Rob Griffin) |
Organisation | Oclaro |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Early stage planning for work on test and verification of super-channel transceivers. |
Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of bespoke compact, pluggable (CFP2) transceiver. |
Impact | TBC |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with PoliTo |
Organisation | Polytechnic University of Turin |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of experimental setup of discrete Raman amplifier for joint work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of expertise in machine learning methods and visitng personnel to Aston for collorative working. |
Impact | Journals paper, knowledge exchange, relationship building. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Towards Manufacturing of Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with Socionext |
Organisation | Socionext |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Laboratory facilities and numerical modelling |
Collaborator Contribution | Studentship support and provision of high-speed DAC and ADC Evaluation boards. |
Impact | OFC and ECOC papers. Transmission facilities based on Socionext DAC/ADC at Aston. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Towards Massive WDM Metro - collaboration with Teropta |
Organisation | TerOpta |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Laboratory facilities, experimental expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | Photonic components |
Impact | Journal paper. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | IoP QEP Group Roadmapping |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | One day workshop feeding into pilot IoP strategic roadmapping exercise to facilitate creation of roadmap for Special Interest Group in Quantum Electronics and Photonics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | WON Special Event at ECOC 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Special event dedicated to Wideband Optical Networking at ECOC 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ecoc2021.org/programme/special-events |
Description | WON workshops and networking events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Researchers, industry partners and invited practioners from across Europe and beyond in the subject area of Wideband Optical Networks, including discussion on broad range of topics covering transceivers, amplifiers, switches, transmission performance, optical network design and techno-economic aspects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020,2021 |
URL | https://won.astonphotonics.uk/ |