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2:00 p.m.
For More Information:
Ted Knight
301 405 3596
teknight@umd.edu
http://www.ece.umd.edu/colloquium
Polarization-Independent Signal Processing in High-Speed Optical Communication Systems
 Prof. Thomas E. Murphy (tem@umd.edu)
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of Maryland
http://www.photonics.umd.edu/
Abstract:
In today’s optical networks, signal processing is performed with high-speed electrical circuits, which are usually limited to speeds below 40 Gb/s. At higher speeds, the electrical components become prohibitively costly and complicated. One solution to this problem is to perform the signal processing in the optical domain, using ultrafast nonlinear optical effects.
While many nonlinear effects have been exploited for optical signal processing, most have the disadvantage that they depend on the incoming polarization state, which cannot be easily controlled or predicted in fiber-optic networks. This polarization dependence is a major obstacle that stands in the way of replacing electronic signal processing with optical processing. In this talk, I will discuss ongoing research to develop polarization insensitive nonlinear optical processing techniques for use in high-speed networks. I will address two key components of a high-speed optical receiver: optical clock recovery and optical switching. We have devised a new polarization-independent 80 Gb/s optical clock recovery system that uses two-photon absorption in an inexpensive silicon photodiode. I will also describe a new method for polarization independent optical switching at speeds up to 160 Gb/s using cross-phase modulation in highly nonlinear optical fibers. Together, these components could form the basis for a new, high-speed polarization independent optical receiver.
Biography:
Thomas Murphy studied physics and electrical engineering at Rice University, graduating with joint degrees in 1994. He then joined the NanoStructures Laboratory at MIT, where he pursued research in integrated optics and nanotechnology. He completed his M.S. degree in 1997 and his Ph.D. in 2000, both in Electrical Engineering. In 2000, he joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory as a staff member in the Optical Communications Technology Group where he studied ultrafast optical communications systems. In August 2002, he joined the faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Thomas is a member of the Optical Society of America, the IEEE, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi, and a recent recipient of the NSF CAREER award. His research interests include optical communications, short-pulse phenomena, numerical simulation, optical pulse propagation, nanotechnology, terahertz and microwave photonics, and integrated optics.
This Event is For: Clark School
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