Speaker
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)
The MeerKAT telescope, as a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), is expected to have 64 dish antennas, each delivering data rates up to 40Gbps. This paper reviews the optical wavelength division multiplexing technique (WDM) and how the method can be used to drive the 40Gbps links required for each of the MeerKAT dish antennas. We report on a 8x5Gbps WDM optical system simulated under VPIphotonics, which led to bit-error-rates (BER) estimations for each channel that met the telecommunications target of BER < 10-9 at an optical receiver sensitivity around -22dBm for all 8 WDM channels considered. The results obtained show error free transmission for the 8 channels considered in the system. This demonstrates that the presented WDM setup could successfully be implemented for the optical data transport network of the MeerKAT telescope.
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD)?
PhD
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Prof Tim Gibbon, Email: tim.gibbon@nmmu.ac.za
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
