Publisher's Synopsis
Photonic switching is a term used to describe existing and new photonic devices in conjunction with existing and new electronic devices to realise new or improved switching and networking capabilities. It includes simple mechanically activated optical switches used for network protection switching and network reconfiguration, where an entire optical signal is redirected as a unit. It includes the use of optical interconnections within equipment to facilitate internal high speed and high density interconnects. It includes the use of tunable transmitters and receivers at the core of a high speed packet or circuit switch, with large quantities of electronics providing supporting interface and control functions. In principle it also includes the concept of an all-optical switch whose architecture and component technologies have yet to be invented. In recent years materials and device scientists have been coming together more and more with systems architects to uncover the real opportunity areas for coherent communications and photonic switching.
