Publication

Wavefront-Shaping Enabled Scalable Optical Circuit Switch

2025

Abstract

Optical interconnects accelerate AI training, yet Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) adoption lags due to reliability, scalability, and flexibility challenges. We propose leveraging wave optics with distributed light modulation, enabling CMOS-compatible, low-voltage, nonblocking switching. This versatile approach allows miniaturization and easier scaling, overcoming traditional OCS limitations.

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2025

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (15)

Circuit switching

Circuit switching is a method of implementing a telecommunications network in which two network nodes establish a dedicated communications channel (circuit) through the network before the nodes may communicate. The circuit guarantees the full bandwidth of the channel and remains connected for the duration of the communication session. The circuit functions as if the nodes were physically connected as with an electrical circuit.

Optical mesh network

An optical mesh network is a type of optical telecommunications network employing wired fiber-optic communication or wireless free-space optical communication in a mesh network architecture. Most optical mesh networks use fiber-optic communication and are operated by internet service providers in metropolitan and regional but also national and international scenarios. They are faster and less error prone than other network architectures and support backup and recovery plans for established networks in case of any disaster, damage or failure.

Synchronous optical networking

Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) and Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) are standardized protocols that transfer multiple digital bit streams synchronously over optical fiber using lasers or highly coherent light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs). At low transmission rates data can also be transferred via an electrical interface. The method was developed to replace the plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) system for transporting large amounts of telephone calls and data traffic over the same fiber without the problems of synchronization.