Optical Benes-type TDM switching architectures

Considers time division multiplexed (TDM) optical switching networks built from (2×2) LiNbO₃ switches and feed forward fiber delays, useful for TDM systems in telecommunications and pipelined systems such as time multiplexed optical multiprocessors. The researchers at the University of Strathclyde and the British Telecommunication proposed [Hunter and Smith, 1992] optical TDM switching networks which are mathematically equivalent to the Benes network [Benes, 1964] thus requiring theoretically a minimal number of switches. The networks were constructed recursively and justified mathematically, but without a control algorithm. The present authors provide a derivation of an optical TDM switching network equivalent to the networks of Hunter and Smith which yields an explicit control algorithm