Measurement-Platform for Ultra-High Data-Rates (MORE)

• Subject Area: Communication Technology and Networks, High-Frequency Technology and Photonic Systems, Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Information Technology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434434888

Future communication systems have to provide drastically increased data-rates. The TUD has already demonstrated ICs with small-signal bandwidths of 200 GHz. However, the large-signal measurements of the ultra-high data-rates feasible with such ICs are very challenging. The challenges increase with noise and distortion and the fact that the generation of high data-rates comes with reduced signal levels. A further problem is the phase noise of the signal sources limiting the measurement accuracy. M O R E wants to solve these issues and aims at establishing the worldwide fastest data-rate measurement platform. After very constructive discussions, the suppliers offer to the M O R E platform equipment with record and future-proved properties:- Exclusively for this project, a data-rate and bit error tester is developed with 4 channels each providing a record data-rate of 130 Gb/s even with NRZ (Non-Return-to-Zero) modulation. With only 4 channels, data-rates up to 0.52 Tb/s can be generated and analysed. Moreover, the output signal level of the modules will be increased from 450 mV to ≥ 700 mV.- Real-time oscilloscope (RTO) with 4 channels each having sampling rates of 256 GS/s and bandwidths of 100 GHz. The bandwidth per channel is extendable to 110 GHz. To improve the crucial signal detection above 70 GHz, a unique calibration is offered specially to M O R E to improve the bit resolution.- Arbitrary wave generator (AWG) with 2 channels each providing 120 GS/s and complex data formats such as 64 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). Specifically for M O R E, an advanced tool-set will be implemented as additional feature to suppress distortions.- Signal generator up to 42 GHz with novel ultra-low-phase-noise option.Even with these advanced performances and additional features, it was possible to negotiate costs well below list prices leading to overall costs of 2.173 Mio. €.In addition, we will extend the measurable speed per single channel beyond 200 Gb/s by self-designed SiGe multiplexers thereby improving the state-of-the-art (SoA) by a factor of around 2.This equipment will e.g. enable the exploration and development of wireless communication links up to 0.52 Tb/s, optical links with ≥ 130 Gb/s per channel (even with NRZ) and data converters with 100 GHz bandwidth × 6 bit resulting in SoA improvements by factors of 4.3, 2 and 10, respectively.M O R E combines the complementary competences of 12 professors and 5 junior research group leaders from 6 universities and 1 institute, is open to include further third-party users and targets utilizations of almost 100 %. The M O R E platform will be applied by > 100 researchers and will be the nucleus for numerous follow-up research projects (DFG, BMBF, EU, etc.), networking, education of PhD students and > 100 top publications. As initiator and successful concept proposer of this major instrumentation initiative, Frank Ellinger aims at stimulating synergies between other accepted proposals.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: 4 Channel BERT ; 4 channel real-time oscilloscope ; arbitrary wave generator ; signal generator
• Instrumentation Group: 2720 Impedanz- und Dämpfungsmeßgeräte, Frequenzgangmeßgeräte, Netzwerkanalysatoren ; 6300 Meßgeneratoren, Meßsender, Frequenznormale
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Dresden
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Ellinger
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Ronny Henker
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr.-Ing. Karlheinz Bock; Professor Dr. Daniel Erni; Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard P. Fettweis; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Diana Goehringer; Professor Dr. Matthias Hein; Professor Dr. Jan Hesselbarth; Professor Dr.-Ing. John Thomas Horstmann; Professor Dr. Kambiz Jamshidi, Ph.D.; Professor Dr.-Ing. Rolf Kraemer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Rudolph; Professor Dr. Ronald Tetzlaff