Project acronym DELPHINS
Project DESIGN AND ELABORATION OFMULTI-PHYSICS INTEGRATED NANOSYSTEMS
Researcher (PI) Thomas Ernst
Host Institution (HI) COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The innovation of DELPHINS application will consist in building a generic multi-sensor design platform for embedded multi-gas-analysis-on-chip, based on a global modelling from the individual NEMS sensors to a global multiphysics NEMS-CMOS VLSI (Very large Scale Integration) system. The latter constitute a new research field with many potential applications such as in medicine (specific diseases recognition) but also in security (toxic and complex air pollutions), in industry (perfumes, agribusiness) and environment control. As an example, several studies in the last 10 years have demonstrated that some specific combination of biomarkers in breath above a given threshold could indicate early stage of diseases. More generally, patterns of breathing gas could constitute a virtual fingerprint of specific pathologies. NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems) based sensor is one of the most promising technologies to get the required resolutions and sensitivities for few molecules detection. We will focus on the analytical module of the system (sensing part + embedded electronics processing) that will include ultra-dense (more than thousands) NEMS arrays with state-of the art CMOS transistors. We will obtain integrated nano-oscillators individually addressed within an innovative architecture inspired from memory and imaging technologies. Few molecules sensitivity will be achieved thanks to suspended resonant nanowires co-integrated locally with their closed-loop and reading electronics. This would make possible the analysis of complex gases within an integrated portable system, which does not exist yet.
Summary
The innovation of DELPHINS application will consist in building a generic multi-sensor design platform for embedded multi-gas-analysis-on-chip, based on a global modelling from the individual NEMS sensors to a global multiphysics NEMS-CMOS VLSI (Very large Scale Integration) system. The latter constitute a new research field with many potential applications such as in medicine (specific diseases recognition) but also in security (toxic and complex air pollutions), in industry (perfumes, agribusiness) and environment control. As an example, several studies in the last 10 years have demonstrated that some specific combination of biomarkers in breath above a given threshold could indicate early stage of diseases. More generally, patterns of breathing gas could constitute a virtual fingerprint of specific pathologies. NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems) based sensor is one of the most promising technologies to get the required resolutions and sensitivities for few molecules detection. We will focus on the analytical module of the system (sensing part + embedded electronics processing) that will include ultra-dense (more than thousands) NEMS arrays with state-of the art CMOS transistors. We will obtain integrated nano-oscillators individually addressed within an innovative architecture inspired from memory and imaging technologies. Few molecules sensitivity will be achieved thanks to suspended resonant nanowires co-integrated locally with their closed-loop and reading electronics. This would make possible the analysis of complex gases within an integrated portable system, which does not exist yet.
Max ERC Funding
1 723 206 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-11-01, End date: 2014-10-31
Project acronym HYMAGINE
Project Hybrid CMOS/Magnetic components and systems for energy efficient, non-volatile, reprogrammable integrated electronics
Researcher (PI) Bernard Dieny
Host Institution (HI) COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary Spinelectronics merges magnetism and electronics (Nobel Prize 2007). Besides its fundamental interest, it has found applications in hard disk drives (1998) and in non-volatile standalone memories (MRAM, on market since 2006). MRAMs integrate CMOS components with magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ). The PI and his team are convinced that besides MRAMs, this hybrid CMOS/MTJ technology can yield a totally new approach in the way electronic devices are designed. Most CMOS devices such as microprocessors are based on Von Neumann architecture in which logic and memories are separate components. The unique set of characteristics combined within MTJs: cyclability, switching speed, scalability, makes it possible to conceive novel electronic systems in which logic and memory are intimately combined in non-volatile logic components (non-volatile CPU). Such systems would have outstanding advantages in terms of energy savings, logic-memory communication speed, ultrafast reprogrammability, compactness, design simplicity. The objective of this project is to lay the fundation of this novel approach, which requires addressing both fundamental and more applied issues. The basic issues concern the improvement and reliability of spintronic materials, mastering the speed and coherence of magnetization switching, developing tools for the quantitative interpretation of MTJ properties and for designing hybrid CMOS/MTJ devices. The applied goals are the conception, building and testing of a few illustrative devices demonstrating the outstanding advantages of this technology. A further one is to establish an internationally recognized roadmap for this non-volatile logic. If successful, its impact on European microelectronics and magnetism industry could be huge.
Summary
Spinelectronics merges magnetism and electronics (Nobel Prize 2007). Besides its fundamental interest, it has found applications in hard disk drives (1998) and in non-volatile standalone memories (MRAM, on market since 2006). MRAMs integrate CMOS components with magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ). The PI and his team are convinced that besides MRAMs, this hybrid CMOS/MTJ technology can yield a totally new approach in the way electronic devices are designed. Most CMOS devices such as microprocessors are based on Von Neumann architecture in which logic and memories are separate components. The unique set of characteristics combined within MTJs: cyclability, switching speed, scalability, makes it possible to conceive novel electronic systems in which logic and memory are intimately combined in non-volatile logic components (non-volatile CPU). Such systems would have outstanding advantages in terms of energy savings, logic-memory communication speed, ultrafast reprogrammability, compactness, design simplicity. The objective of this project is to lay the fundation of this novel approach, which requires addressing both fundamental and more applied issues. The basic issues concern the improvement and reliability of spintronic materials, mastering the speed and coherence of magnetization switching, developing tools for the quantitative interpretation of MTJ properties and for designing hybrid CMOS/MTJ devices. The applied goals are the conception, building and testing of a few illustrative devices demonstrating the outstanding advantages of this technology. A further one is to establish an internationally recognized roadmap for this non-volatile logic. If successful, its impact on European microelectronics and magnetism industry could be huge.
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-07-01, End date: 2015-06-30
Project acronym MICRONANOTELEHAPTICS
Project Micro/Nano Exploration, Manipulation and Assembly: Telehaptics and Virtual Reality System Development and Investigation of Biomechanics and Neuroscience of Touch
Researcher (PI) Mandayam Anandanpillai Srinivasan
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary The primary objective of the proposed project is to develop robot mediated human interface technologies to manually explore, manipulate and assemble progressively smaller objects ranging from micro- to nano-meter scales and a secondary objective is to demonstrate the power of the interface system in the investigation of the fundamental mechanics and neural mechanisms of touch. The proposed system will consist of a master-slave robotic teleoperation (TO) subsystem and a virtual reality (VR) subsystem. The master robot will enable the user to touch, feel and manipulate (1) real micro/nano structures through the slave robot or (2) computer models of micro/nano structures in the virtual reality environment. Specific aims of this effort are as follows: (1) design and develop a custom master system to enable the user to have real-time visual, auditory, and bimanual haptic interactions; (2) design and develop a slave system consisting of microscopes and manipulators progressively augmented to enable micro to nano-precision movements and forces; (3) develop modular software architecture with device abstraction to support multiple master and slave devices; (4) integrate virtual reality software to enable the user to have real-time visual, auditory, and bimanual interactions with virtual models at micro- to nano-meter scales based on empirical data or to test hypotheses; (5) use the system to perform biomechanics and neurophysiology experiments at progressively micro- to nano-precision movements and forces; (6) develop mathematical models of mechanotransduction for quantitative understanding of touch mechanisms at multiple scales.
Summary
The primary objective of the proposed project is to develop robot mediated human interface technologies to manually explore, manipulate and assemble progressively smaller objects ranging from micro- to nano-meter scales and a secondary objective is to demonstrate the power of the interface system in the investigation of the fundamental mechanics and neural mechanisms of touch. The proposed system will consist of a master-slave robotic teleoperation (TO) subsystem and a virtual reality (VR) subsystem. The master robot will enable the user to touch, feel and manipulate (1) real micro/nano structures through the slave robot or (2) computer models of micro/nano structures in the virtual reality environment. Specific aims of this effort are as follows: (1) design and develop a custom master system to enable the user to have real-time visual, auditory, and bimanual haptic interactions; (2) design and develop a slave system consisting of microscopes and manipulators progressively augmented to enable micro to nano-precision movements and forces; (3) develop modular software architecture with device abstraction to support multiple master and slave devices; (4) integrate virtual reality software to enable the user to have real-time visual, auditory, and bimanual interactions with virtual models at micro- to nano-meter scales based on empirical data or to test hypotheses; (5) use the system to perform biomechanics and neurophysiology experiments at progressively micro- to nano-precision movements and forces; (6) develop mathematical models of mechanotransduction for quantitative understanding of touch mechanisms at multiple scales.
Max ERC Funding
3 264 188 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2016-11-30
Project acronym MINT
Project Multiphoton Ionization Nano-Therapy
Researcher (PI) Dvir Yelin
Host Institution (HI) TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The application of nanotechnology for addressing key problems in clinical diagnosis and therapy holds great promise in medicine and in cancer in particular. Recent works have shown significant progress in nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and therapy. In these applications, however, the small dimensions of the nanoparticles have been used primarily for efficient delivery and specificity, while the effects mediated by the nanoparticles occur away from the particle itself, affecting the entire cell\tumour volume. We propose to study and develop, for the first time, a novel scheme for cancer therapy that treats cancer cells at nanoscale resolutions. Briefly, when noble-metal nanoparticles are illuminated with femtosecond laser pulses tuned to their plasmonic resonance, order-of-magnitude enhancements of the optical fields several nanometres away from their surfaces lead to local damage only to nearby molecules or cellular organelles. This process, which practically involves no toxic agents, is at the basis for this proposal; we will utilize techniques for targeting nanoparticles to cells, initiate and control cancer cell destruction using nanoparticles and femtosecond laser pulses, and develop technology for conducting image-guided minimally invasive cancer therapy in remote locations of the body. Preliminary results supporting the proposed scheme include nonlinear optical imaging and ablation of living cells, in vivo endoscopic imaging of cancerous tumour nodules, and computer simulations of light-nanoparticle interactions. Using state-of-the-art concepts in nanotechnology, biology, chemistry, and medicine, the proposed novel multidisciplinary research will attempt at offering a feasible and safe addition to existing forms of cancer therapy.
Summary
The application of nanotechnology for addressing key problems in clinical diagnosis and therapy holds great promise in medicine and in cancer in particular. Recent works have shown significant progress in nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and therapy. In these applications, however, the small dimensions of the nanoparticles have been used primarily for efficient delivery and specificity, while the effects mediated by the nanoparticles occur away from the particle itself, affecting the entire cell\tumour volume. We propose to study and develop, for the first time, a novel scheme for cancer therapy that treats cancer cells at nanoscale resolutions. Briefly, when noble-metal nanoparticles are illuminated with femtosecond laser pulses tuned to their plasmonic resonance, order-of-magnitude enhancements of the optical fields several nanometres away from their surfaces lead to local damage only to nearby molecules or cellular organelles. This process, which practically involves no toxic agents, is at the basis for this proposal; we will utilize techniques for targeting nanoparticles to cells, initiate and control cancer cell destruction using nanoparticles and femtosecond laser pulses, and develop technology for conducting image-guided minimally invasive cancer therapy in remote locations of the body. Preliminary results supporting the proposed scheme include nonlinear optical imaging and ablation of living cells, in vivo endoscopic imaging of cancerous tumour nodules, and computer simulations of light-nanoparticle interactions. Using state-of-the-art concepts in nanotechnology, biology, chemistry, and medicine, the proposed novel multidisciplinary research will attempt at offering a feasible and safe addition to existing forms of cancer therapy.
Max ERC Funding
1 782 600 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-12-01, End date: 2014-11-30
Project acronym MOSILSPIN
Project Modeling Silicon Spintronics
Researcher (PI) Siegfried Selberherr
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary The breath taking increase in performance of integrated circuits became possible by continuous miniaturization of CMOS devices. On this exciting path many tough problems were resolved; however, growing technological challenges and soaring costs will gradually bring scaling to an end. This puts foreseeable limitations to the future performance increase, and research on alternative technologies and computational principles becomes important. Spin attracts attention as alternative to the charge degree of freedom for computations and non-volatile memory applications. Silicon as main material of microelectronics is characterized by negligible spin-orbit interaction and zero-spin nuclei and should display long spin coherence times. Combined with the potentially easy integration with CMOS, long spin coherence makes silicon perfectly suited for spin-driven applications, as confirmed by recent impressive demonstrations of spin injection, coherent propagation, and detection. The success of microelectronics technology has been well assisted by smart Technology Computer-Aided Design tools; however, support for spin applications is entirely absent. The objective here is to create, test, and apply a simulation environment for spin-based devices in silicon. Microscopic models describing the physical properties relevant to the spin degree of freedom are developed. Special attention will be paid to investigate, how to increase the spin coherence time. One option is based on completely removing the valley degeneracy in the conduction band by [110] uniaxial stress. Understanding spin-polarized transport in silicon and in compatible hysteretic materials allows using the spin-torque effect to invent, model, and optimize prototypes of switches and memory cells for the 21st century.
Summary
The breath taking increase in performance of integrated circuits became possible by continuous miniaturization of CMOS devices. On this exciting path many tough problems were resolved; however, growing technological challenges and soaring costs will gradually bring scaling to an end. This puts foreseeable limitations to the future performance increase, and research on alternative technologies and computational principles becomes important. Spin attracts attention as alternative to the charge degree of freedom for computations and non-volatile memory applications. Silicon as main material of microelectronics is characterized by negligible spin-orbit interaction and zero-spin nuclei and should display long spin coherence times. Combined with the potentially easy integration with CMOS, long spin coherence makes silicon perfectly suited for spin-driven applications, as confirmed by recent impressive demonstrations of spin injection, coherent propagation, and detection. The success of microelectronics technology has been well assisted by smart Technology Computer-Aided Design tools; however, support for spin applications is entirely absent. The objective here is to create, test, and apply a simulation environment for spin-based devices in silicon. Microscopic models describing the physical properties relevant to the spin degree of freedom are developed. Special attention will be paid to investigate, how to increase the spin coherence time. One option is based on completely removing the valley degeneracy in the conduction band by [110] uniaxial stress. Understanding spin-polarized transport in silicon and in compatible hysteretic materials allows using the spin-torque effect to invent, model, and optimize prototypes of switches and memory cells for the 21st century.
Max ERC Funding
1 678 500 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-03-01, End date: 2016-02-29
Project acronym NARESCO
Project Novel paradigms for massively parallel nanophotonic information processing
Researcher (PI) Peter Bienstman
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT GENT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary In this project we will develop nanophotonic reservoir computing as a novel paradigm for massively parallel information processing. Reservoir computing is a recently proposed methodology from the field of machine learning and neural networks which has been used successfully in several pattern classification problems, like speech and image recognition. However, it has so far mainly been used in a software implementation which limits its speed and power efficiency. Photonics could provide an excellent platform for such a hardware implementation, because of the presence of unique non-linear dynamics in photonics components due to the interplay of photons and electrons, and because light also has a phase in addition to an amplitude, which provides for an important additional degree of freedom as opposed to a purely electronic hardware implementation. Our aim is to bring together a multidisciplinary team of specialists in photonics and machine learning to make this vision of massively parallel information processing using nanophotonics a reality. We will achieve these aims by constructing a set of prototypes of ever increasing complexity which will be able to tackle ever more complex tasks. There is clear potential for these techniques to perform information processing that is beyond the limit of today's conventional computing processing power: high-throughput massively parallel classification problems, like e.g. processing radar data for road safety, or real time analysis of the data streams generated by the Large Hadron Collider.
Summary
In this project we will develop nanophotonic reservoir computing as a novel paradigm for massively parallel information processing. Reservoir computing is a recently proposed methodology from the field of machine learning and neural networks which has been used successfully in several pattern classification problems, like speech and image recognition. However, it has so far mainly been used in a software implementation which limits its speed and power efficiency. Photonics could provide an excellent platform for such a hardware implementation, because of the presence of unique non-linear dynamics in photonics components due to the interplay of photons and electrons, and because light also has a phase in addition to an amplitude, which provides for an important additional degree of freedom as opposed to a purely electronic hardware implementation. Our aim is to bring together a multidisciplinary team of specialists in photonics and machine learning to make this vision of massively parallel information processing using nanophotonics a reality. We will achieve these aims by constructing a set of prototypes of ever increasing complexity which will be able to tackle ever more complex tasks. There is clear potential for these techniques to perform information processing that is beyond the limit of today's conventional computing processing power: high-throughput massively parallel classification problems, like e.g. processing radar data for road safety, or real time analysis of the data streams generated by the Large Hadron Collider.
Max ERC Funding
1 260 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym NOWIRE
Project Network Coding for Wireless Networks
Researcher (PI) Christina Fragouli
Host Institution (HI) ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary Our goal is to develop fundamentally new architectures for wireless networks that offer the convenience of wireless communication while achieving the performance, predictability and security of wired networks. The wireless channel is inherently a shared medium characterized by limited resources and complex signal interactions between transmitted signals. The question we address is how do we transmit information over wireless and how do we exploit the wireless channel properties to share its resources. Ours is a fundamentally different approach to existing strategies, that builds on new physical and packet layer sharing and cooperation paradigms that we have been working on, to extract the optimal throughput and reliability performance from the wireless medium. These are recent breakthroughs in (i) network coding and (ii) wireless cooperation. Network coding is a new area bringing a novel paradigm for network information flow that enables cooperation at a packet level to optimally share the network resources. Deployment of the first network coding ideas in wireless have already indicated benefits as large as a factor of ten in terms of throughput. Complex signal interactions caused by the inherent broadcast nature of wireless channels, is traditionally viewed as an impediment to be mitigated. Recently it has been demonstrated that one can utilize interference to develop cooperation at the wireless signal level (physical layer) for arbitrary wireless networks. This can give significant capacity advantages over techniques that mitigate interference. Both these ideas can radically affect the way information is communicated, stored and collected, and can revolutionize the design of future wireless networks. In this project we plan to addess several fundamental questions that develop on these themes. We take a complete view of these ideas by not only developing the underlying theory but also through validation on wireless testbeds.
Summary
Our goal is to develop fundamentally new architectures for wireless networks that offer the convenience of wireless communication while achieving the performance, predictability and security of wired networks. The wireless channel is inherently a shared medium characterized by limited resources and complex signal interactions between transmitted signals. The question we address is how do we transmit information over wireless and how do we exploit the wireless channel properties to share its resources. Ours is a fundamentally different approach to existing strategies, that builds on new physical and packet layer sharing and cooperation paradigms that we have been working on, to extract the optimal throughput and reliability performance from the wireless medium. These are recent breakthroughs in (i) network coding and (ii) wireless cooperation. Network coding is a new area bringing a novel paradigm for network information flow that enables cooperation at a packet level to optimally share the network resources. Deployment of the first network coding ideas in wireless have already indicated benefits as large as a factor of ten in terms of throughput. Complex signal interactions caused by the inherent broadcast nature of wireless channels, is traditionally viewed as an impediment to be mitigated. Recently it has been demonstrated that one can utilize interference to develop cooperation at the wireless signal level (physical layer) for arbitrary wireless networks. This can give significant capacity advantages over techniques that mitigate interference. Both these ideas can radically affect the way information is communicated, stored and collected, and can revolutionize the design of future wireless networks. In this project we plan to addess several fundamental questions that develop on these themes. We take a complete view of these ideas by not only developing the underlying theory but also through validation on wireless testbeds.
Max ERC Funding
1 771 520 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-09-01, End date: 2014-08-31
Project acronym PATCH
Project Computational Theory of Haptic Perception
Researcher (PI) Vincent Hayward
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE - PARIS 6
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary During mechanical interaction with our environment, we derive a perceptual experience which may be compared to the experience that results from acoustic and optic stimulation. Progress has been made towards the discovery of mechanisms subserving the conscious experience of interacting with mechanical objects. This progress is due in part to the availability of new instruments that can tightly control mechanical stimulation of both the ascending, i.e. sensory, and descending, i.e. motor, pathways. The program describes the design of new mechanical stimulation delivery equipment capable of fine segregation of haptic cues at different length scales and different time scales so that controlled stimuli may be delivered with the ease and accuracy which is today possible when studying vision or audition. The purpose of this equipment is to disentangle and recombine the individual cues used by the brain to recover the attributes of an object, leading to the identification of the computations that must be performed to achieve a perceptual outcome. In vision and audition, much is known of the nature of the peripheral and central computations, but in touch, for lack of proper equipment, little is known. From this knowledge, I aim at developing a theory of haptic perception which rests on the observation that these computations are distributed in the physics of mechanical contact, in the biomechanics of the hand, including the skin, the musculoskeletal organization, innervation, and in central neural processes. This research program is rich in applications ranging from improved diagnosis of pathologies, to rehabilitation devices, to haptic interfaces now part of consumer products and virtual reality systems.
Summary
During mechanical interaction with our environment, we derive a perceptual experience which may be compared to the experience that results from acoustic and optic stimulation. Progress has been made towards the discovery of mechanisms subserving the conscious experience of interacting with mechanical objects. This progress is due in part to the availability of new instruments that can tightly control mechanical stimulation of both the ascending, i.e. sensory, and descending, i.e. motor, pathways. The program describes the design of new mechanical stimulation delivery equipment capable of fine segregation of haptic cues at different length scales and different time scales so that controlled stimuli may be delivered with the ease and accuracy which is today possible when studying vision or audition. The purpose of this equipment is to disentangle and recombine the individual cues used by the brain to recover the attributes of an object, leading to the identification of the computations that must be performed to achieve a perceptual outcome. In vision and audition, much is known of the nature of the peripheral and central computations, but in touch, for lack of proper equipment, little is known. From this knowledge, I aim at developing a theory of haptic perception which rests on the observation that these computations are distributed in the physics of mechanical contact, in the biomechanics of the hand, including the skin, the musculoskeletal organization, innervation, and in central neural processes. This research program is rich in applications ranging from improved diagnosis of pathologies, to rehabilitation devices, to haptic interfaces now part of consumer products and virtual reality systems.
Max ERC Funding
2 302 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-08-01, End date: 2016-07-31
Project acronym PHODIR
Project PHOtonic-based full DIgital Radar
Researcher (PI) Antonella Bogoni
Host Institution (HI) CONSORZIO NAZIONALE INTERUNIVERSITARIO PER LE TELECOMUNICAZIONI
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary PHODIR project aims to study, design and realize a full digital transceiver radar demonstrator based on photonic technology both for signal generation and for RF received signal processing. Hybrid technologies merging second generation optical systems and conventional radar architecture could be the answer to issues deriving from electronic devices poor performances such high SFDR (Spurious Free Dynamic Range) and high phase noise level that are nowadays impeding the construction of a fully digital radar transceiver. Starting from a conventional radar architecture, the generation of high frequency signals in the optical domain at the transmitter section and the use of ultra-high bit rate and short width optical pulse train for RF received signal sampling are the main solutions we are going to investigate in the project to overcome problems related to electronic devices. The innovative research aspects of the proposal are: -Definition of a new full digital radar transceiver architecture based on photonic technology -Development and realization of new electro-optic second generation devices -New parallel signal processing algorithms. The most important benefits arising from the project are: -Electro-optic system integration -New technological development in the design of advanced photonic devices -New technological/scientific development in the design of high performance radar CNIT can provide an high level of experience in the field of photonic devices design and implementation and radar system analysis and design. Theoretical support and experimental test-bed thanks to instrumentations and competences in very high-bit rate Gb/s Optical Time Division Multiplexing Systems and techniques for ultra-fast optical sampling are also provided by CNIT.
Summary
PHODIR project aims to study, design and realize a full digital transceiver radar demonstrator based on photonic technology both for signal generation and for RF received signal processing. Hybrid technologies merging second generation optical systems and conventional radar architecture could be the answer to issues deriving from electronic devices poor performances such high SFDR (Spurious Free Dynamic Range) and high phase noise level that are nowadays impeding the construction of a fully digital radar transceiver. Starting from a conventional radar architecture, the generation of high frequency signals in the optical domain at the transmitter section and the use of ultra-high bit rate and short width optical pulse train for RF received signal sampling are the main solutions we are going to investigate in the project to overcome problems related to electronic devices. The innovative research aspects of the proposal are: -Definition of a new full digital radar transceiver architecture based on photonic technology -Development and realization of new electro-optic second generation devices -New parallel signal processing algorithms. The most important benefits arising from the project are: -Electro-optic system integration -New technological development in the design of advanced photonic devices -New technological/scientific development in the design of high performance radar CNIT can provide an high level of experience in the field of photonic devices design and implementation and radar system analysis and design. Theoretical support and experimental test-bed thanks to instrumentations and competences in very high-bit rate Gb/s Optical Time Division Multiplexing Systems and techniques for ultra-fast optical sampling are also provided by CNIT.
Max ERC Funding
1 600 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-12-01, End date: 2013-11-30
Project acronym SOCRATES
Project Serial Optical Communications for Advanced Terabit Ethernet Systems
Researcher (PI) Leif Katsuo Oxenløwe
Host Institution (HI) DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The last two decades has seen an explosion in telecommunication bandwidth, a trend which has never ceased. Another current trend is the growing concern for the environmental footprint humankind is leaving due to various industries. The Internet traffic grows roughly by 60% per year, and internet servers today consume about 2% of the total global electric power consumption corresponding to a CO2 emission approaching 1% of the total emission caused by human beings. These trends have made it very clear that it is imperative to develop new technologies that can accommodate for the ever growing bandwidth demand and reduce power consumption. The key issue for modern telecommunication engineers and designers is no longer cost per bit, but power per bit. Using optical methods for carrying data and processing the data, without opto-to-electrical conversion, so-called all-optical methods, may help in this respect. This project will aim at developing an all-optical power-efficient communication scenario based on serial optical communications. In serial communications, fewer components will in general be used, and with ultra-short pulses, very high bit rates will become available. Historically, increases in the serial data rate have lead to cost savings, due to reduced complexity in management, reduced power consumption and a reduced number of components. We believe this will hold true, and will explore the fundamental physical limits of serial communications to reach the ultimate serial bit rate, and develop network scenarios to fully take advantage of the serial nature of the data, whilst maintaining a focus on limiting the power consumption. In particular we want to design network scenarios for optical serial multi-Tbit/s data and additionally build a 1 Tbit/s optical Ethernet scenario. We will develop stable ultra-fast switches , and mature them for a variety of functionalities, eventually leading to a validation of ultra-high-speed serial optical communication systems.
Summary
The last two decades has seen an explosion in telecommunication bandwidth, a trend which has never ceased. Another current trend is the growing concern for the environmental footprint humankind is leaving due to various industries. The Internet traffic grows roughly by 60% per year, and internet servers today consume about 2% of the total global electric power consumption corresponding to a CO2 emission approaching 1% of the total emission caused by human beings. These trends have made it very clear that it is imperative to develop new technologies that can accommodate for the ever growing bandwidth demand and reduce power consumption. The key issue for modern telecommunication engineers and designers is no longer cost per bit, but power per bit. Using optical methods for carrying data and processing the data, without opto-to-electrical conversion, so-called all-optical methods, may help in this respect. This project will aim at developing an all-optical power-efficient communication scenario based on serial optical communications. In serial communications, fewer components will in general be used, and with ultra-short pulses, very high bit rates will become available. Historically, increases in the serial data rate have lead to cost savings, due to reduced complexity in management, reduced power consumption and a reduced number of components. We believe this will hold true, and will explore the fundamental physical limits of serial communications to reach the ultimate serial bit rate, and develop network scenarios to fully take advantage of the serial nature of the data, whilst maintaining a focus on limiting the power consumption. In particular we want to design network scenarios for optical serial multi-Tbit/s data and additionally build a 1 Tbit/s optical Ethernet scenario. We will develop stable ultra-fast switches , and mature them for a variety of functionalities, eventually leading to a validation of ultra-high-speed serial optical communication systems.
Max ERC Funding
1 518 387 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-09-01, End date: 2014-08-31
