Optical switch fabrics for ultra-high-capacity IP routers

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 2839 - 2850
• Main Authors: Gripp, J., Duelk, M., Simsarian, J.E., Bhardwaj, A., Bernasconi, P., Laznicka, O., Zirngibl, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-11-2003; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Arrayed waveguide gratings; Backplanes; Costs; Diffraction gratings; Fabrics; IP (Internet Protocol); Multiprotocol label switching; Optical interconnections; Optical packet switching; Optical switches; Optical switching; Optical waveguides; Packet switching; Routers; Running; Tuning; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2003.819150

Next-generation switches and routers may rely on optical switch fabrics to overcome scalability problems that arise in sizing traditional electrical backplanes into the terabit regime. In this paper, we present and discuss several optical switch fabric technologies. We describe a promising approach based on arrayed waveguide gratings and fast wavelength tuning and explain the challenges with respect to technical and commercial viability. Finally, we demonstrate an optical switch fabric capable of 1.2-Tb/s throughput and show packet switching with four ports running at 40 Gb/s each.