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New trends in photonic switching and optical networking architectures for data centers and computing systems [Invited]

Journal Article · · Journal of Optical Communications and Networking
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/jocn.484577· OSTI ID:2421350

The rapid increases in data traffic coupled with user preferences are driving the data center and computing system service providers to offer energy-efficient, intelligent, flexible, cost-effective, high-capacity, and low-latency data services without added complexity to the users. Disaggregated heterogeneous reconfigurable computing systems realized by photonic switching and interconnects can enhance throughput and energy efficiency for artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) workloads, especially when aided by the AI/ML-enhanced control plane. Photonic switching and new optical networking architectures are expected to solve many of these challenging problems. This paper discusses new trends in photonic switching and optical network architectures for future data centers and computing systems summarized as follows: (1) flat reconfigurable disaggregated computing enabled by high-radix photonic switching and interconnects in data centers; (2) chiplet-based computing architectures empowered by embedded photonics toward heterogeneous reconfigurable computing; (3) nanosecond-scale photonic switching in data centers and computing systems; (4) AI/ML in self-driving, application-aware, and situation-aware data centers; (5) the emergence of flexible networking for cloud computing, edge computing, and split computing, as well as flexible networking for 5G/6G RF-optical networks; and (6) the deployment of embedded co-designed silicon photonics being considered for future data centers.

Research Organization:
Nhanced Semiconductors, Inc., Naperville, IL (United States); Freedom Photonics, LLC, Santa Barbara, CA (United States); Optelligent, LLC, Costa Mesa, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
SC0019526; SC0019582; SC0019692
OSTI ID:
2421350
Journal Information:
Journal of Optical Communications and Networking, Journal Name: Journal of Optical Communications and Networking Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 15; ISSN JOCNBB; ISSN 1943-0620
Publisher:
IEEE - Optical Society of America (OSA)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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