Terabit per second Optical Communications

Science Leader	Project Leader
Prof Authur Lowery Monash University	Prof Mark Pelusi University of Sydney

We are developing ultra high speed and low power optical signal processors by pushing the frontiers of nanophotonics, slow light, meta-materials & plasmonics.

Figure One - Schematic of a hybrid integrated photonic device incorporating a laser, bandpass filter, photodetectors and nonlinear optical section for high-speed optical signal processing.

These technologies will solve the bottlenecks of energy consumption, footprint and data transmission capacity that would otherwise halt the growth of optical data communication networks, that is driven by increased number of users, increased access rates and methods and increased services.

Figure Two - Higher data capacity optical communication technologies are required to meet the growing aggregate bandwidth demands on optical communication networks and enterprise computing applications (as compared to Ethernet standards). Source: IEEE Communications Magazine 45 (2007).

Figure Three - Highly nonlinear optical waveguide fabricated in chalcogenide glass (As2S3) is an attractive platform for hybrid integration with other materials to enable high-speed signal processing in a compact photonic device.

Faster and more energy efficient internet and mobile broadband communications, yielding richer and more powerful applications that will benefit work, health, lifestyle, security, trade, information, communication, and entertainment in a globally connected society.

Tb/s Group, Annual CUDOS Workshop at Shoal Bay, Feb 2011.