Multi-Flow Transmitter with Full Format and Rate Flexibility for Next Generation Networks

We extend our proof-of-concept demonstration of a novel multi-flow transmitter for next generation optical metro networks. The multi-flow concept is based on the combination of spectrum and polarization sliceability, and its implementation on the combination of a polymer photonic integration platform with high-speed IQ modulators. In this work, we replace the static scheme of our previous demonstration for the definition of the optical flows and the generation of the driving signals, and we unveil the true potential of the transmitter in terms of programmability and network flexibility. Using a software defined optics (SDO) platform for the configuration of the digital and optical parts of the transmitter, and the configuration of the optical switch inside the node, we demonstrate operation with flexible selection of the number and type of the optical flows, and flexible selection of the modulation format, symbol rate, emission wavelength and destination of each flow. We focus on 16 specific cases accommodating 1 or 2 optical flows with modulation format up to 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (64-QAM), and symbol rate up to 25 Gbaud. Through transmission experiments over 100 km of standard single-mode fiber, we validate the possibility of the transmitter to interchange its configuration within this range of operation cases with bit-error rate performance below the forward error correction limit. Future plans for transmitter miniaturization and extension of our SDO platform in order to interface with the software defined networking (SDN) hierarchy of true networks are also outlined.