Grant: Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives

Electronic circuits specially adapted to the control of “intelligent” multi-terabit optical transceivers will be developed for intra-satellite switching systems for the deployment of future space satellite networks in low earth orbit (LEO). The expected deployment of several thousand LEO satellites for large-scale global space connectivity by OneWeb, SpaceX and others requires reliable and incredibly fast connections within the satellite itself. These types of satellites are actually huge data routers—similar to those in terrestrial networks—needed to switch several terabits/s of data over free-space optical laser links from other satellites and the ground. However, they will also have to do this while travelling at speeds in excess of 18,000 km/h and being bombarded by high-energy particles. This project will require robust designs of advanced integrated circuits for fibre-optic transceivers with a high number of high-speed channels for relaying data between computer chips inside a satellite. In order to achieve characteristics and performance suitable for intra-satellite applications, the planned transceivers will be based on ring resonator technology coupled with the NRC’s quantum box comb lasers (QBCs). Electronic circuits will have to be specially designed to match these optical technologies.