Low Latency Optical Packet Switched Interconnection Networks

In this paper the implementation and complete characterization of a fully connected OPS network based on the data vortex architecture that capitalizes on the enormous bandwidth advantage of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and designed to deliver ultra-low latencies is discussed. We demonstrate end-to-end routing latencies near 100ns for the 12-port system with 160 Gbps per port. Slot timing margins and latency characteristics are investigated experimentally within the fully implemented 12-port optical packet switching network, as are dynamic optical power range and the overall flexibility and robustness of the system.