Frequency Comb for Optical Communications – Hype or Hope?

The workshop aims to explore the applications of optical frequency combs in communication networks. The discussion will revolve around two teams: a Technology Push team and a Technology Pull team. These teams will collaborate along with the workshop audience to develop roadmap solutions. The Push team will explain the operational principles of a specific comb technology and suggest potential areas in the network where the combs can be used. On the other hand, the Pull team will emphasize network requirements and identify urgent issues that combs can address. The workshop will focus on bridging technical gaps to move combs from being hyped to becoming hopeful solutions.

Frequency combs are light sources composed of optical tones with equal frequency spacing, with varying degrees of phase coherence between the individual lines. In the past decade, there has been growing interest in developing frequency comb sources and investigating their potential in optical communications, demonstrating benefits such as reduced cost and power consumption for transceivers, enhanced system performance with DSP and analog signal processing, and novel system functions.

However, despite extensive research, industrial adoption remains slow, with debates about frequency combs' role in optical communications. Are they going to play a major role, or are they merely suitable for niche applications? To address these questions, it is essential to identify the requirements for their integration into the industry's roadmap and determine when they might be adopted.

This workshop gathers academics and industry to discuss and debate the future role of frequency combs in optical communications, fostering a dialogue to clarify the frequency combs’ potential roles and impact on the industry.

Speakers  

Victor Torres-Company, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Alexy Kovsh,  Alfalume, USA 

Eric Bernier, HiSilicon Optoelectronics, Canada

Ronit Sohanpal, University College London, UK

Bill Cocoran, Monash University, Australia

Thomas Gerard, Infinera, USA

Gabriele Di Rosa, ADVA, Germany