The development of silicon semiconductor technology has produced breakthroughs in electronics—from the microprocessor in the late 1960s to early 1970s, to automation, computers and smartphones—by downscaling the physical size of devices and wires to the nanometre regime. Now, graphene and related two-dimensional (2D) materials offer prospects of unprecedented advances in device performance at the atomic limit, and a synergistic combination of 2D materials with silicon chips promises a heterogeneous platform to deliver massively enhanced potential based on silicon technology. Integration is achieved via three-dimensional monolithic construction of multifunctional high-rise 2D silicon chips, enabling enhanced performance by exploiting the vertical direction and the functional diversification of the silicon platform for applications in opto-electronics and sensing. Here we review the opportunities, progress and challenges of integrating atomically thin materials with silicon-based nanosystems, and also consider the prospects for computational and non-computational applications. Progress in integrating atomically thin two-dimensional materials with silicon-based technology is reviewed, together with the associated opportunities and challenges, and a roadmap for future applications is presented.

Graphene and two-dimensional materials for silicon technology.

We present theoretical and simulation results for the performance of asymmetrically-clipped optical OFDM (ACO-OFDM) and DC-biased optical OFDM (DCO-OFDM) in AWGN for intensity-modulated direct-detection systems. Constellations from 4 QAM to 1024 QAM are considered. For DCO-OFDM, the optimum bias depends on the constellation size which limits its performance in adaptive systems. ACO-OFDM requires less optical power for a given data rate than DCO-OFDM for all but the largest constellations and is better suited to adaptive systems as the same structure is optimum for all constellations.

Comparison of Asymmetrically Clipped Optical OFDM and DC-Biased Optical OFDM in AWGN

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) uses multiplicity of space channels to increase capacity for optical communication. It is applicable for optical communication in both free space and guided waves. This paper focuses on SDM for fiber-optic communication using few-mode fibers or multimode fibers, in particular on the critical challenge of mode crosstalk. Multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) equalization methods developed for wireless communication can be applied as an electronic method to equalize mode crosstalk. Optical approaches, including differential modal group delay management, strong mode coupling, and multicore fibers, are necessary to bring the computational complexity for MIMO mode crosstalk equalization to practical levels. Progress in passive devices, such as (de)multiplexers, and active devices, such as amplifiers and switches, which are considered straightforward challenges in comparison with mode crosstalk, are reviewed. Finally, we present the prospects for SDM in optical transmission and networking.

Space-division multiplexing: the next frontier in optical communication

An optical vortex having an isolated point singularity is associated with the spatial structure of light waves. A polarization vortex (vector beam) with a polarization singularity has spatially variant polarizations. A phase vortex with phase singularity or screw dislocation has a spiral phase front. The optical vortex has recently gained increasing interest in optical trapping, optical tweezers, laser machining, microscopy, quantum information processing, and optical communications. In this paper, we review recent advances in optical communications using optical vortices. First, basic concepts of polarization/phase vortex modulation and multiplexing in communications and key techniques of polarization/phase vortex generation and (de)multiplexing are introduced. Second, free-space and fiber optical communications using optical vortex modulation and optical vortex multiplexing are presented. Finally, key challenges and perspectives of optical communications using optical vortices are discussed. It is expected that optical vortices exploiting the space physical dimension of light waves might find more interesting applications in optical communications and interconnects.

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Advances in communications using optical vortices

This paper reviews advanced optical burst switching (OBS) and optical packet switching (OPS) technologies and discusses their roles in the future photonic Internet. Discussions include optoelectronic and optical systems technologies as well as systems integration into viable network elements (OBS and OPS routers). Optical label switching (OLS) offers a unified multiple-service platform with effective and agile utilization of the available optical bandwidth in support of voice, data, and multimedia services on the Internet Protocol. In particular, OLS routers with wavelength routing switching fabrics and parallel optical labeling allow forwarding of asynchronously arriving variable-length packets, bursts, and circuits. By exploiting contention resolution in wavelength, time, and space domains, the OLS routers can achieve high throughput without resorting to a store-and-forward method associated with large buffer requirements. Testbed demonstrations employing OLS edge routers show high-performance networking in support of multimedia and data communications applications over the photonic Internet with optical packets and bursts switched directly at the optical layer

Optical Packet and Burst Switching Technologies for the Future Photonic Internet

https://pure.tue.nl/ws/files/2217081/Metis160048.pdf

Sub-picosecond all-optical switch using a multi-quantum-well semiconductor optical amplifier

By means of narrow infrared beams very high capacity wireless links can be set up to users individually, while also offering high privacy and high energy efficiency. Accurate device localization for steering the beams is required. This has been achieved within the 10 cm pico-cell resolution of a 2D beam-steered optical wireless communication system by applying a matrix of miniature corner-cube retro-reflectors. The localization process is self-calibrating, and does not need power-consuming elements at the receiver. In an indoor laboratory system setup, real-time transfer of multiple 10GbE high-definition video streams has been demonstrated.

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Fully Passive User Localization for Beam-Steered High-Capacity Optical Wireless Communication System

By means of narrow 2D-steerable infrared beams, interference-free individual wireless connections to densely-spaced devices in industry 4.0 settings can be made. Beam steering by fiber-fed passive diffractive beam steering modules and wavelength-tunable transceivers located in a separate controller location enable readily scalable connectivity to many devices and their nomadic mobility. To accommodate the dynamics in industry 4.0 settings, self-calibrating localization of the devices by means of retro-reflecting corner cube foils and beam scanning is demonstrated, and a low-complexity broadband wide field-of-view optical wireless receiver is presented, based on a matrix of photodiodes.

Beam-Steered Optical Wireless Communication for Industry 4.0

Fully passive user localisation for beam-steered high-capacity optical wireless communication system

We propose a low-cost optically-fed architecture capable of increasing the capacity and overall coverage of IEEE 802.11n MIMO WLAN system for in-building networks. A fully functional transmission over GI-MMF was demonstrated employing 2×3 MIMO configuration.

Frans Huijskens

Papers

Sub-picosecond all-optical switch using a multi-quantum-well semiconductor optical amplifier

Fully Passive User Localization for Beam-Steered High-Capacity Optical Wireless Communication System

Beam-Steered Optical Wireless Communication for Industry 4.0

Fully passive user localisation for beam-steered high-capacity optical wireless communication system

Demonstration of fully functional MIMO wireless LAN transmission over GI-MMF for in-building networks