Analysis and Design of Free-Space Optical Interconnects for Optically Augmented Computing

Student: Feng-Chuan Tsai

Supervisor: Aleksandar Rakic

Category: Engineering Thesis Project - Communications

In short-distance digital communication links, free-space optical interconnects (FSOIs) have been proposed as the solution to relieve the limitation of traditional electrical interconnects. FSOI provide advantage in terms of low power consumption, wide bandwidth, fast speed and high capacity. They can be implemented in chip-to-chip or module-to-module interconnection systems within computers, telecommunications or data-communication systems.

The purpose of this thesis is to design different FSOI models and then implement the design by using the commercial simulation software Code V as a tool to perform various analyses. Three FSOI models have been considered and they are Microlens design, Macrolens design and Hybrid design. All three designs involve two important components that are the source and the detector. Then the relay lens is placed between the source and the detector to increase the interconnection distance. The analysis relates to issues such as diffraction, cross talk and interference for different FSOI designs. Also analysis of aberration and distortion are looked at during the project.

Diffraction analysis was done by propagating Laser Beam through the relay lens and the encircled energy was determined at the detector plane. It was found that the Microlens design has limited interconnection distance and although the Macrolens design has much longer interconnection distance, it is affected by aberration and distortion. On the other hand, the Hybrid design has better interconnection distance than Microlens design and it is not affected by distortion.

Thesis Document (PDF)