A strictly nonblocking network based on nonblocking 4×4 optical switches

Recently, the demand for communication has been growing rapidly. Hence, optical multistage network technologies are more appreciated nowadays. A double-layer network is a strictly nonblocking network, and it has the lowest system insertion loss of nondilated networks. A Beneš network is a rearrangeably nonblocking network, and it has the same system insertion loss as a double-layer network. We have proposed the use of modified polarization selection elements (PSEs). The system insertion loss, number of drivers, and number of required components of a double-layer network could be reduced if it is constructed with modified PSEs. A nonblocking 4× 4 optical switch with two stages of polarization selective elements has been presented in our previous study. Based on this nonblocking 4 × 4 optical switch, we propose a strictly nonblocking network structure which features even lower system insertion loss than those of a double-layer network and a Beneš network. The signal-to-noise ratio of the proposed network structure is a constant, and is higher than the constraint, although it is lower than that of the doublelayer network. The number of major components of the proposed network is less than that of a double-layer network and larger than that of a Beneš network, since a Beneš network is rearrangeably nonblocking. We also offer a routing algorithm for the new proposed network; the time complexity of the routing algorithm is O(1). © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.