Ultra-high-speed OTDM networks using semiconductor amplifier-based processing nodes

Ultrafast time-domain technology and its application in all-optical signal processing

“…These logic modules are the elementary processing units for a range of signal processing applications. Digital AND is the most common Boolean function and has been used in demultiplexing [54], wavelength conversion [16], as well as 3R-regeneration [4]. The dual-rail XOR logic gate is also of paramount importance because it allows the full complement of Boolean bitwise logic to be performed on ultrafast optical signals.…”

“…Going one step further, optical shift registers [39]- [42] with read/write capability [41], [42], optical packet buffers [43], optical flip/flops [44], exchange-bypass switches [45], header separation and recognition techniques [46]- [51], as well as self-routing switches [52], [53] have been successfully demonstrated, and these are only a small part of the progress made up to now in the field. All these circuits take advantage of the fast nonlinearities in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) [4], [54], resulting in a whole new class of compact devices with low power requirements, which can be potentially integrated on a single-chip module [14].…”

Photonic Integrated Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Switch Circuits

“…All-optical techniques have been considered to make the required step-change in processing speeds. Nonlinearities accessible with high optical powers and high electrical currents in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) create mixing products which can copy broadband information photonically (Stubkjaer, 2000;Ellis et al, 1995;. When used with a suitable filter, these effects can be exploited to create photonic switches and even logic.…”

Simultaneous demultiplexing, data regeneration, and clock recovery with a single semiconductor optical amplifier–based nonlinear-optical loop mirror

“…In this Letter we demonstrate experimentally simultaneous clock recovery, demultiplexing, and data regeneration in a single semiconductor optical amplif ier-based nonlinear-optical loop mirror (SOA-NOLM). 7 In a conventional (two-wavelength) switched nonlinear-optical loop mirror (NOLM) an intense control pulse induces a nonlinear phase difference between counterpropagating signals through cross-phase modulation. The SOA-NOLM is different from the NOLM in that the nonlinearity is provided by an induced change in optical properties of the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) provided by a saturating control pulse.…”