Reliability evaluation of optical multistage interconnection networks

Recent improvements in the optical interconnection technology allow creation of interconnection networks that are larger, faster, and more power efficient than ever before. In this paper, characteristics and limitations of optical multistage interconnection networks (MIN) will be discussed. Then, an implementation of optical MIN for shuffle-exchange network will be presented, including its parameters such as connectivity, network complexity, signal path length, and total number of waveguide crossings. Shuffle-exchange network has been widely considered as a practical interconnection system due to the size of its switching elements and uncomplicated configuration. The reliability evaluation of shuffle-exchange network is demonstrated through a numerical example.