Tunable optical wavelength converters with reconfigurable functionality

Abstract

We propose novel circuits for tunable all-optical wavelength converters with reconfigurable functionality. Circuits for wavelength converters based on cross-gain modulation (XGM) and cross-phase modulation (XPM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA's) are considered, for both copropagating and counterpropagating pump and probe signals. The circuits use arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexers (AWGM's) to filter and route signals in and out of the SOA's. The AWGM's minimize the component count in the circuits and may lead to future integration of wavelength converters. We experimentally demonstrate a XGM wavelength converter with copropagating pump and probe signals and report its bit-error-rate (BER) performance at 2.5 Gb/s.

Performance of networks using wavelength converters based on four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers

“…For example, wavelength converters using cross-gain modulation (XGM) in SOAs are intrinsically asymmetric 7]. Optoelectronic or cross-phase modulation 8] wavelength converters, which, like XGM, are not modulation-format-independent, have apparently little intrinsic tuning limitation, but may have limited output ranges if they use tunable lasers with limited tuning ranges 10], or limited sets of xed-frequency lasers 11,12].…”

Experimental Study of Single- and Multicast Wavelength Conversion at 10 Gb/s Exploiting Four-Wave Mixing in Highly Non-Linear-Photonic Crystal Fiber with Widely Tunable Conversion Range

“…All-optical wavelength converters are considered key building blocks of future transparent photonic networks, which can be used to reduce the probability of wavelength blocking and to enhance the wavelength routing capability and network re-configurability [1][2][3]. Their use can also provide flexibility in network management.…”

Widely Tunable Wavelength Conversion 10 Gb/s Using a Modulated Grating Y-branch Laser Integrated with an Optical Amplifier

“…Mach-Zehnder, Michelson), cross absorption modulation in e.g. saturable absorbers or electroabsorption modulators and several techniques making use of fiber non-linearities [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Cross gain modulation XGM in a SOA is attractive due to its simplicity and good efficiency over a broad wavelength range.…”