Multiwavelength parallel optical interconnects for massively parallel processing

Rajesh R. Patel, Steven W. Bond, Michael D. Pocha, Michael C. Larson, Henry E. Garrett, Rhonda Franklin Drayton, Holly E. Petersen, Denise M. Krol, Robert J. Deri, Mark E. Lowry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe a multiwavelength, multifiber (parallel) optical interconnect based on multimode fiber ribbon cables with applications in massively parallel processing systems. By combining the benefits of parallel optics and coarse wavelength division multiplexing high aggregate throughputs are possible in a broadcast and select architecture that provides a single hop to all nodes. We identify the key components needed for such a system and report on our component development efforts for multiwavelength parallel optical interconnects. System components reported herein include a four-wavelength bit-parallel transmitter using a silicon optical bench and hybrid packaging, and two-port and three-port wavelength selective filter modules packaged to be compatible with mechanically transferable ferrule terminated ribbon cables. The transmitters were modulated up to 1.25 Gb/s with a bit-error rate better than 10-12 and no measurable power penalty due to multiple wavelength bit parallel operation. The filters exhibited insertion losses of between 1 and 2 dB and would support 10 nm spaced channels at -23-dB crosstalk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)657-666
Number of pages10
JournalIEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2003

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Manuscript received October 17, 2002; revised January 30, 2003. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48. This work was supported in part by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under U.S. Air Force Contract #F19628-00-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, recommendations, and conclusions are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.

Keywords

  • Coarse WDM
  • Massively parallel processing interconnects
  • Multiwavelength bit parallel transmitters
  • Multiwavelength parallel optical interconnects
  • WDM filter modules

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