Optical nonblocking multicast and broadcast interconnects using multidimensional multiplexing concepts

It is well known that using space-switching, an N node multistage network can be constructed with its minimum switching complexity in the order of Nlog/sub 2/N but only for the point-to-point switching applications. To allow multicast and broadcast applications, a space-switching network has to use a minimum N/sup 2/ switching states, i.e., a cross-bar type switch. Recently, we have shown that a multidimensional multiplexing concept can be used to reduce the switching complexity while maintaining nonblocking multicast and broadcast switching. In this paper, based on acousto-optic and other photonic switching devices, a free-space optical architecture to support the multidimensional nonblocking multicast switching applications is detailed. System parameters and performance limitations are calculated. Based on a pair of eight-channel acousto-optic Bragg deflector arrays, a proof-of-principle bench-top system was designed and experimentally built. Some performance issues of the proposed the system are studied. Various fundamental and technological limits are evaluated.