Synchronisation schemes for optical networks

Synchronisation is a crucial implementation issue in photonic networks being developed to keep pace with the massive increases in demand for transmission capacity in communication networks. A general introduction to the structure of optical packet switches is given and the role of synchronisation in an extensive optical packet-switched broadband telecommunications layer is obtained. A comparison of the optical performance of a conventional logarithmic delay line and a base-m arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) synchronisation scheme was undertaken through computer simulation. Results show that the base-m AWG architecture has the advantage of low loss and high efficiency with respect to attainable resolution