Optical Interconnects in Next Generation Data Centers: An End to End View

Bandwidth hungry applications such as real-time video processing are expected to strain data center networking infrastructure. Optics enables massive data transmission rates: in telecom settings researchers have demonstrated rates in excess of 20 Tbps, however, the data center presents a different set of challenges. Low cost, low power dissipation, low latency, small physical size, and the ability to integrate with mainstream silicon electronics are more important than the ability to transmit signals over long distances, the traditional telecoms focus. We seek to directly link challenges in upcoming bandwidth hungry applications through to research exploiting high bandwidth optics. By linking the end to end research areas we intend to identify critical technology gaps and enable design of forward looking, efficient, cost effective, higher bandwidth data centers that can take optimal advantage of advances in multicore processors.