Nanosecond optical switches solve for low latency data centers, SDN, quantum photonics
Japanese optical components developer EpiPhotonics Corp. has developed 8x8 PLZT optical switch and PLZT arrayed variable optical attenuator (VOA) products with a 20-ns switching speed. EpiPhotonics has also introduced new versions of the PLZT nanosecond-speed optical switches featuring integrated tapered waveguides for lower loss.
Applications for nano-speed optical switches includes low-latency optical switching for data centers and interconnects, on-demand ROADM and optical crossconnects, software defined optical networks, optical packet switching, optical burst switching, and quantum photonics. The nano-speed VOA is useful for transit/surge suppression, fast power control, channel blocking, and analog signal modulation.
See also: Making the transition to SDN in the data center
EpiPhotonics says PLZT provides a powerful optical waveguide platform that enables nanosecond speed and polarization insensitive response at very low power consumption with no moving parts. Using EpiPhotonics’ PLZT photonics technology, the PLZT 8x8 optical switch and the PLZT VOA provide what the company claims are the fastest speeds in the industry.
EpiPhotonics says it is now shipping PLZT 8x8 optical switches equipped with TTL control nano-second speed driver electronics and the PLZT VOA, as well as newer versions of low-loss PLZT optical switches including 1x1, 1x2, 1x8, 1x16, 2x2, and 4x4.
PLZT is short for (Pb,LA)(ZrTi)O3; EpiPhotonics has been working with the technology for several years, as noted by our sister site, Lightwave.
Source:Lightwave
