INGR Roadmap Optics Chapter

Optical networks have long played a central role in telecommunication networks, forming the fiber backbone of the Internet. Over time fiber optic systems have evolved and found deployment increasingly closer to the network edge. Today, optical systems extend to the server network interface cards and home access networks. New application areas have emerged such as the use of free space communications using LiFi technologies, space communication networks between satellites and ground stations. Looking ahead, optical systems in many areas will continue to be driven by the need for higher speeds and capacity in order to keep up with traffic demands. In addition to faster interfaces speeds, parallel fiber or spatial division multiplexing will be used for future capacity growth. In several application areas, new functionality is expected such as low latency in Xhaul networks and optical switching and co-packaged optics in data centers. LiFi will become critical for mitigating RF interference for in-building networks. Intense research is underway to develop quantum networks to connect quantum computers. This general trend toward new functionalities for optical systems, moving beyond capacity growth in fiber networks, is driven in large part by the increasing performance and demands of today's user equipment and applications. From the network edge to the data centers, components are reliant on optics. The integration of optics into these new applications and the higher levels of functionality demanded of optics motivate the use of roadmaps to guide research and development and overcome future roadblocks.