75495 - Optical Circuits And Networks M

Learning outcomes

This course consists of two modules to provide skills in optical circuit design and its deployment in future optical network elements and infrastructures. The first module is related to the design of optical circuits in view of their applications in optical networks, by the introduction of a circuit model approach based on the physical principles of optical devices. Basic skills in optical networking and in practical applications of optical circuits are given in the second module, with reference to evolving and emerging network service scenarios.

Course contents

Module I (Optical circuits) (3 CFU)

Introduction: from materials to optical circuits.
Materials: main features of Glasses, Lithium Niobate, Silicon and III-V semiconductors.
Technologies: The generic foundry model.
Building Blocks and Design Kits.

Basic elements on optical waveguides: types of waveguides, modes, effective and group indexes, phase and group velocities, different kinds of losses.

Basic Building Blocks: straight and curved waveguides, couplers.

Inductive approach to the behavior of some composite Optical Circuits: Mach-Zehnder interferometers, Ring resonators.

Recall of Fourier and z-transforms and matrix circuit descriptions (Scattering matrix and Transmission matrix).

Deductive approach to the behavior of some composite Optical Circuits: Mach-Zehnder interferometers, Ring resonators, Y-junctions, Arrayed Waveguides (AWG), etc.
Non Recursive and Recursive devices.
Cascade of two ports optical devices, Transfer Function.

Tunable and Programmable optical devices for Programmable Optical Networks.
A first example: an optical filter tunable both in central wavelength and transmission bandwidth.

Module 2 - Optical networks (3 CFU)

Introduction: from optical circuits to optical systems and networks.

Access and core networks, data centers

TDM optical networks: SDH

WDM networks: fixed and flexible grid

WDM network elements: OADM and OXC

Control and management operations

Optical Circuit and Packet Switching

Switch Architectures

Contention resolution

Queuing in optical packet switches

Wavelength converters sharing scheme

Optical networks for backhauling/fronthauling for Fixed/Mobile Network Convergence in 5G scenarios

In A.A. 2017/2018 the following visiting professors on Erasmus mobility will present recent applications of optical circuits and networks

Prof. Ghazi Al Sukkar - University of Jourdan November 6-10

Prof. Jos van Der Tol, Technical Unversity Eindoven December 4-7

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1

Lecture notes published on http://campus.unibo.it/

Books:
C. K. Madsen, J. H. Zhao, Optical Filter Design and Analysis. A Signal Processing Approach, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1999

L. Chrostowski, M. Hochberg, Silicon Photonics Design. From devices to systems. Cambridge University Press, 2015

Further reading:

L. Vivien, L. Pavesi, Handbook of Silicon Photonics, CRC Press, 2013

Module 2

R. Ramaswami, K. N. Sivarajan, G. H. Sasaki, Optical Networks: a practical perspective, Third Edition, Morgan Kaufmann ed.

Teaching methods

Module 1: The lectures will focus on the description of the behavior of some typical optical components and their properties in view of their design for use in optical networks, data centers, etc. Some exercises will also be proposed to students to become familiar with simple structure design.

Module 2: The lectures will focus on the description of the behavior of optical networks, data centers etc.

Integration of the two modules will allow the student to have an overall view of all the levels of the design of a modern optical system, starting from the choices at the technological level, moving through the design of optical components and circuits and, above all, the system architecture, thus understanding how the system design influences and is influenced by circuit design.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral.

Questions will be asked to the students aiming to check the knowledge and the understanding of the general principles of the studied topics and the ability of discuss them with propriety of language.

Teaching tools

PC, Videoprojector.

Use of Matlab codes made available to students. Matlab can be freely downloaded and installed by UniBo Students in the framework of the agreement between UniBo and Mathoworks: http://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/studying-and-beyond/discounts-for-computer-tablet-and-software-1/matlab/matlab-1

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bassi

See the website of Carla Raffaelli