Abstract
This article provides a review of integrated laser and semiconductor optical amplifier components that have been configured to provide a variety of all-optical functions such as wavelength conversion, routing, signal regeneration, and add-drop multiplexing. The components have been devised so that they can be reliably and simply used within a multiwavelength network. The article introduces the components by outlining the current leading techniques for wavelength conversion using SOAs, namely by way of cross-gain modulation, cross-phase modulation, and four-wave mixing. The integrated SOA distributed feedback laser is then shown to provide excellent regeneration properties, not only overcoming fiber dispersion limitations but also polarization mode dispersion. Finally, the devices are shown to make possible a regenerative wavelength switching node where routing is achieved using a tunable laser to provide regenerative wavelength conversion followed by an arrayed waveguide router. This switch shows promise for use in future photonic packet switching architectures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 74-81 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | IEEE Communications Magazine |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2002 |
Funding
The authors would like to acknowledge the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding this work through the WASPNET and OPSNET projects. They would also like to thank their industrial collaborators. The SOA-DFB was supplied by M. J. Fice of Nortel Networks and the tunable laser by P. J. Williams of Bookham Technology. Some of the systems tests were carried out at BT Labs in collaboration with D. Nesset and A. E. Kelly. The device simulations were carried out using VPI-transmissionMaker and VPIcomponentMaker supplied under the VPI University Programme.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Computer Networks and Communications