Opto-VLSI-based reconfigurable free-space optical interconnects architecture

Abstract

This paper presents a short-distance reconfigurable high-speed optical interconnects architecture employing a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array, Opto-very-large-scale-integrated (Opto-VLSI) processors, and a photodetector (PD) array. The core component of the architecture is the Opto-VLSI processor which can be driven by digital phase steering and multicasting holograms that reconfigure the optical interconnects between the input and output ports. The optical interconnects architecture is experimentally demonstrated at 2.5 Gbps using high-speed 1×3 VCSEL array and 1×3 photoreceiver array in conjunction with two 1×4096 pixel Opto-VLSI processors. The minimisation of the crosstalk between the output ports is achieved by appropriately aligning the VCSEL and PD elements with respect to the Opto-VLSI processors and driving the latter with optimal steering phase holograms.