Optical interconnects for multiprocessor architectures using wavelength-division multiplexing

Multiprocessor architectures based on optical interconnects employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are considered. WDM is a technique used to divide the tremendous bandwidth of a single strand of fiber into many non-interfering wavelengths. System components (processing, memory, and/or I/O elements) can use these wavelengths as communication channels. The authors present the background needed to understand WDM architecture, outline several categories of single-hop communication protocols, and show how a multihop WDM-based multiprocessor can reconfigure itself to any virtual topology.<>