Efficient asynchronous transfer mode techniques for high speed networks

Transmission technology in broadband networks is based on optics, which offers enormous bandwidth approaching 30 THz. The full potential of this bandwidth however can not be used in systems having electronic nodes in the transmission path. Here, a new architecture is proposed that takes advantage of the features of a photonic ATM switch for the purpose of achieving extremely high throughputs (in the order of 1 Tbps). Because of the advantages of free-space optical interconnections, a photonic ATM switch can overcome the connection problem in the buffer memory and the self-routing circuit for the ATM switch. The use of all-optical photonic devices makes this architecture unique.