Protocol-Transparent, Universal Optical Front-End for 10 Gb/s Network Interface Cards

72905-High speed networks will be required to deliver the large data volumes associated with DOE science experiments. Deployment scenarios for 10 Gb/s enterprise and access networks will require optical interfaces capable of spanning distances from 100 m to 10 km. Presently available 10 Gb/s optical front-ends are not generally applicable because they are either lacking in capability or are too large, power hungry, and costly. This project will develop a new optical front-end/transceiver based on combining single-mode, vertical-cavity-surface-emitting-laser (VCSEL) transmitter technology with a payload-agnostic electrical interface. This optical front-end is expected to provide the optimum solution for any transport protocol over the entire range from 100 m to 10 km. In Phase I, a laboratory bench-top prototype of the optical interface was constructed. Robust transmission of 10 Gb/s signals through up to 10 km of standard optical fiber was demonstrated. Phase II will produce and demonstrate realistic transceiver prototypes. These prototypes will not only meet performance specifications well beyond the current state-of-the-art, but also will successfully address issues of volume manufacturability and long-term reliability. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The optical front-end should offer a low-cost, superior performance solution applicable to practically all 10 Gb/s enterprise and access applications, including computing clusters, storage networks, servers, and advanced workstations. By offering a uniquely inexpensive and general purpose optical link, the interface will spur the wide-spread deployment of 10 Gb/s communications within edge networks.