• Developing network architectures and components that move the photonic edge, the border of the core where data flow experiences no optoelectronic conversion, functionally and geographically closer to the end user.
• Developing agile network reconfiguration techniques to respond to changing traffic patterns.
• Using both time and wavelength to achieve a higher degree of data flow granularity; by combining Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) with optically slotted or burst-switched Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), we will parse network traffic into small bandwidth bins of time and wavelength.
• Performing switching and routing using all-photonic means, thus increasing the fraction of signal processing performed optically.
• Managing traffic electronically at the photonic edge by controlling core switches via dedicated electrical or optical out-of-band connections.
• Developing an understanding of physical layer transmission impairments that arise from new traffic patterns generated in AAPNs.
• Designing dynamic components (amplifiers, regenerators, polarization compensators) to manage these transmission impairments.
• Realizing fast switches capable of supporting the level of time and wavelength granularity required to achieve target network performance.
• Designing compact, highly functional modules for switching and routing.

The program is structured in three Themes (click onwards for Theme overviews):

Theme 1: Networks and Architectures G. v. Bochmann – Theme Leader, M. Coates, T. Hall, L. Mason, R. Vickers, O. Yang Theme 2: Enabling Technologies D. Plant – Theme Leader, S. Aitchison, X. Bao, J. Cartledge, L. Chen, W. Huang, A. Kirk, E. Sargent Theme 3: System Integration J. Cartledge – Theme Leader, S. Aitchison, X. Bao, G. v. Bochmann, L. Chen, M. Coates, A. Kirk, and D. Plant