1. "Radio over Fiber" Systems.
This research activity is active thanks to the
collaborations with research bodies (like the Italian
Institute of Radioastronomy) and with private companies (like
CommScope Italy srl). The applications of this activity regard
respectively the transmission through the optical fiber of
radioastronomic signals and the distribution of the
wireless mobile signal for telecommunications. Moreover,
collaborations with european Research bodies are active on this
topic.
2. Optical Components and Devices
This Research Activity refers to the Theoretical an Experimental
study of Optical Systems Components (Laser Transmitters, Optical
Receivers, Optical Amplifiers) aiming to realize transmission
systems which maintain high performances keeping at the same time
costs at a low level.
3. Numerical Methods
This activity belongs to the "historical" competence of DEI
(formerly DEIS) Optics Group. Thanks to this activity,
collaborations have been active for many years with various
Universities and Research Laboratories. The objective of this
research activity is to develop simulation models of optical
components and devices, making at the same time an
experimental investigation over the same components and
devices. The latter can be performed either in DEI or in the
laboratories of research partners which are equipped of the
necessary instrumentation.
- Referring to the first research topic, ("Radio over Fiber"
Systems), the main activity is performed in collaboration with
the Institute of Radioastronomy, with the aim to identify fiber
optic links with high performance to cost ratio, to be utilized in
the downlink from the receiving antenna to the signal processing
room. This activity is performed within the international
project "Square Kilometer Array" (SKA). Remaining on this
topic, it is already some years that an official Collaboration
Agreement has been signed between DEI (formerly DEIS) and
the Company CommScope Italy srl, which produces this type of
Optical Systems.The Collaboration has already brought some results
like the publication of Scientific Papers, and the hiring in the
framework of a Technology -Transfer Agreement (SPINNER Project
of Region Emilia Romagna) of Engineers who got their MS degrees
followed by the Optics Group of DEI. The research activity
performed so far has been focused on the development of
design tools for Optical Links based on Single Mode Fibers (SMF),
putting into account all the possible impairments which give
detarioration to the received signal. A further objective
that is going to be pursued is the study of these systems in a
wider scenario, where the transmission channel can be either a
Single Mode Fiber or a Multi Mode Fiber (realized in silica or in
polymeric material), like in the cases when wireless multi standard
and multi operator services must be distributed inside
airports, hospitals, etc (in-building scenarios). This activity has
received a big impulse by the European Integrated Project ALPHA
(Architectures for fLexible Photonic Home and Access Networks)
which has taken place from 2008 to 2011, and where both DEI Optics
Group and Commscope Italy were present as partners. After this
project, various research activities will continue on this topic.
In particular, a research activity on the utilization of frequency
modulation in analog optical systems is planned, in view of
expected improvements in the systems' performances that this
modulation should bring.
- The second topic of research consists in investigating the
feasibility of innovative low cost solutions for the realization of
optical components, devices and sub-systems (transmitters,
receivers, various kinds of fiber components), starting from
their experimental characterization and from the development of
appropriate simulation and design models. The final ojective can be
the realization of Radio over Fiber Systems, or also the
realization of particular components for telecommunications and
sensors.
- The third research topic (Development of Simulation Tools
for Numerical Modelling), as previously mentioned, is the field
where DEI Optics Group has mostly developed its competences
in the last years. Electromagnetic Simulators which have
been developed here are based on different Methods, featuring
characteristics which complement each other. Recently, more
"sistemistic" simulators have been developed, with the aim to model
complete telecommunication optical systems, also with the partial
aid of commercial software tools. This topic of research consists
anyway in the continuous upgrade of the mentioned simulation
programs, in order to put into account new physical phenomena, and
at the same time improve the overall performances in terms of
computational time and/or memory requested to perform the
simulations.
