High-speed free-space scalable switching network for parallel computing

The system architecture and the first prototype demonstrator system for the VCSEL-based Interconnects in VLSI Architectures for Computational Enhancement (VIVACE) program is described. The main goal of the VIVACE program is to build a high bi-section bandwidth free-space optically interconnected switch and to demonstrate it in a system of multiple compute nodes running a distributed algorithm. The prototype demonstrator system developed is a stand alone first-generation VIVACE Optical Network Interface Card (VONIC) communicating to another VONIC through a parallel- data fiber link. This system was developed to test the signal integrity and Bit Error Rate between two VONICs.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.