Integrated SOAs enable energy-efficient intra-data center coherent links
Coherent optical links are becoming increasingly attractive for intra-data center applications as data rates scale. Realizing the era of high-volume short-reach coherent links will require substantial improvements in transceiver cost and power efficiency, necessitating a reassessment of conventional architectures best-suited for longer-reach links and a review of assumptions for shorter-reach implementations. In this work, we analyze the impact of integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) on link performance and power consumption, and describe the optimal design spaces for low-cost and energy-efficient coherent links. Placing SOAs after the modulator provide the most energy-efficient link budget improvement, up to 6 pJ/bit for large link budgets, despite any penalties from nonlinear impairments. Increased robustness to SOA nonlinearities makes QPSK-based coherent links especially attractive, and larger supported link budgets enable the inclusion of optical switches, which could revolutionize data center networks and improve overall energy efficiency.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AR0000848
- OSTI ID:
- 1973150
- Journal Information:
- Optics Express, Journal Name: Optics Express Vol. 31 Journal Issue: 11; ISSN 1094-4087
- Publisher:
- Optical Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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