Annika Dochhan joins OFC workshop panel to discuss future of direct detect technology

• Speakers: Annika Dochhan, ADVA; Hacene Caouch, Arista Networks; Philippe Chanclou, Orange Labs LLC; Vivian Chen, Nokia Bell Labs; Mark Filer, Microsoft Corp.; Roberto Gaudino, Politecnico di Torino; Songnian Fu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hoon Kim, KAIST; David Plant, McGill University; Sebastian Randel, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Christian Rasmussen, Acacia Communications Inc.; Takuo Tanemura, The University of Tokyo; Peter Winzer, Nokia Bell Labs
• Topics: Will advanced direct detection systems ever be the solution of choice for metro and access applications?
• When: Sunday, March 3, 4 p.m.
• Where: OFC, The Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, USA

Anticipated traffic requirements for future metro and access applications seem to exceed the scaling capabilities of conventional intensity-modulation direct detection systems. Various advanced direct detect technologies have been recently proposed, which to various extents rely on the use of digital signal processing, offer increased throughput, and require simpler optical hardware compared to coherent systems. On the other hand, coherent systems have the best cost-per-bit when Tbit/s-per-transceiver rates are targeted.

In this workshop, Annika Dochhan and the panel will address the question of whether advanced direct detect systems will ever be realistically considered for commercial metro, access, and data center systems, or whether coherent technology will eventually take over.