Synchronized parallel optical interconnection subsystem implemented in the RWC-1 massively parallel computer

Optical interconnection has been implemented to interconnect the nodes of the RWC-1 massively parallel computer. This interconnect enables large-throughput, long-transmission-length, low-latency, and highly transparent fundamental internode communication. An eight-node parallel processing system was thus produced as a prototype. Each node is interconnected by dc-coupled 24-bit synchronized parallel optical interconnection at 100 MHz with the 50-m-long single-mode ribboned fibers. The skew in a 24-bit data signal is suppressed within -380 to 650 ps, and the OE/EO conversion delay time is 15.2 ns. We ran a parallel processing program to evaluate the system. And we showed that optical interconnection can overcome the communication bottleneck in parallel processing systems.