Optical Fiber Interconnections for the Computer Center

Abstract

Optical fiber data links are gaining in popularity for computer mainframe interconnect applications due to the noise immunity and wide bandwidth capabilities of the optical links themselves. These links could he implemented using 1.3 Um lasers and single-mode fibers-technologies developed for long-distance telecommunications. however, mainframe computer interconnects have requirements that are different from those for long-distance telecommunications links and therefore do not necessarily justify the use of these technologies. In this paper, some of the generic applications of fiber-optics for computer center, interconnects will he described. General requirements of these interconnect applications will also he reviewed and some of the potential technologies that might be used for implementing these optical channels will be discussed. © 1989 SPIE.