Physical layer transmission and switching solutions in support of spectrally and spatially flexible optical networks

Fiber optic communication networks in the era of large data centers are required to provide large capacity, often orders of magnitude larger than the capacity of a single-mode fiber. The transport capacity must also be rapidly reconfigurable to adapt to the applications and services provided by the data centers. This article explores new transponders capable of providing larger capacities and making optimal use of the optical transmission spectrum, new optical switches capable of flexible routing of wavelength and multiple spatial channels, and new amplifiers supporting multiple spatial channels and broad optical bandwidth.