Scalable Optical MIMO processor using Silicon Photonics

Scalable Optical MIMO processor using Silicon Photonics | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Scalable Optical MIMO processor using Silicon Photonics Stefanos Kovaios, Christos Vagionas, Maria Vargemidou, Ronis Maximidis, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7802387/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Next generation wireless communications systems are rapidly penetrating higher RF frequency bands together with massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication schemes, requiring processing units to perform at millimeter-wave RF carriers while supporting high-bandwidth and highly scalable configurations. However, operating electronic MIMO processing units at such high-frequency and high-bandwidth system requirements becomes extremely challenging when targeting beneficial energy consumption metrics. Photonic processors emerge as a promising alternative to tackle channel interference encountered in MIMO systems, with the main argumentation building on the large available bandwidth and favorable energy efficiency credentials of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technologies. However, photonic MIMO processors that support more than 2 channels are currently entirely missing; moreover, their architectural framework relies exclusively on matrix decomposition algebra, raising significant concerns about their scalability potential. In this paper, we present a scalable silicon photonic (SiPho) MIMO processor architecture that exploits the coherent crossbar (Xbar) interferometric layout and demonstrates experimentally its successful performance in proof-of-concept MIMO setups. The zero-forcing photonic processor can cancel channel interference and compensate for phase offsets in the received signals. The experimental validation of the proposed system is performed through a 4×4 SiPho Xbar chip, demonstrating 3×3 and 4×4 MIMO processing with phase offset compensation capabilities for both single-tone and data-modulated RF channels, transmitted through arbitrary linear channels. This work presents, to the best of our knowledge, the largest demonstrated photonic MIMO processor, utilizing the SiPho Xbar linear optical circuit architecture and bearing the promise of scaling to more than 32 high-RF frequency and mmWave wireless channels. Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical materials and structures/Silicon photonics Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Applied optics/Integrated optics Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7802387","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":540628582,"identity":"29f7dd95-b611-4272-929f-1f7c168d03e7","order_by":0,"name":"Stefanos 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Photonics","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research 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However, operating electronic MIMO processing units at such high-frequency and high-bandwidth system requirements becomes extremely challenging when targeting beneficial energy consumption metrics. Photonic processors emerge as a promising alternative to tackle channel interference encountered in MIMO systems, with the main argumentation building on the large available bandwidth and favorable energy efficiency credentials of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technologies. However, photonic MIMO processors that support more than 2 channels are currently entirely missing; moreover, their architectural framework relies exclusively on matrix decomposition algebra, raising significant concerns about their scalability potential. In this paper, we present a scalable silicon photonic (SiPho) MIMO processor architecture that exploits the coherent crossbar (Xbar) interferometric layout and demonstrates experimentally its successful performance in proof-of-concept MIMO setups. The zero-forcing photonic processor can cancel channel interference and compensate for phase offsets in the received signals. The experimental validation of the proposed system is performed through a 4\u0026times;4 SiPho Xbar chip, demonstrating 3\u0026times;3 and 4\u0026times;4 MIMO processing with phase offset compensation capabilities for both single-tone and data-modulated RF channels, transmitted through arbitrary linear channels. 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