Error-free 320 Gb/s SOA-based Wavelength Conversion using Optical Filtering

Abstract

We demonstrate error-free 320 Gb/s SOA-based optical wavelength conversion. By utilizing optical filtering, an effective recovery time of less than 1.8 ps is achieved in an SOA, which ensures 320 Gb/s operation. OCIS codes: (190.5970) Semiconductor nonlinear optics, (250.5980) Semiconductor optical amplifier 1. Introduction All-optical wavelength converters (AOWCs) are considered as important building blocks in the future high-capacity wavelength-division-multiplexed networks. AOWCs that utilize nonlinearities of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) have attracted considerable research interest due to the integration ability and power efficiency [1]. A number of SOA-based AOWCs have been demonstrated [2][3][4][5]. However, the slow SOA recovery time (typically several tens to hundred ps) can cause unwanted pattern effects in the converted signal, which limits the maximum operation speed.In this paper, we present for the first time an error-free and pattern-independent 320 Gb/s wavelength conversion using a single SOA. To our best knowledge, this is the highest operation speed for SOA-based wavelength conversion. The wavelength converter is constructed by using commercially available fiber pigtailed components. The SOA in the experiment is a commercial product (Kamelian nonlinear SOA), having an initial fully gain recovery time of 56 ps. We demonstrate that the effective recovery time of the SOA can dramatically shorten to less than 1.8 ps by using optical filtering. A delayed-interferometer is utilized to change the inverted signal into noninverted signal. The wavelength converter has a simple configuration, operates at low optical power, and this concept allows photonic integration. The work was funded by STW EET6491 and IST-LASAGNE (FP6-507509).

40-Gb/s all-optical digital 4-bit priority encoder employing cross-gain modulation in semiconductor optical amplifiers

“…All extinction ratios exceed 10 dB, and the eye opening factors exceed 0.7. This scheme has the potential to operate at a higher bit rate because wavelength conversion with a similar program was demonstrated at 320 Gb/s [12,13].…”

All-optical wavelength conversion at 160 Gbit/s using SOA and silicon-on-insulator photonic circuit

“…Error-free wavelength conversion based on cross-phase modulation (XPM) in a single SOA assisted by filtering at 320 Gbit/s using discrete components [5] and a monolithically integrated AOWC at 80 Gbit/s [6], consisting of an SOA and an arrayed-waveguide grating, have been demonstrated. In these experiments, the converted signal at the SOA output had the inverse polarity compared to the input signal.…”

Simultaneous penalty free dual wavelength conversion using four wave mixing in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

“…Due to their integration potential and power efficiency, SOAs have attracted considerable research interest as wavelength converters. Errorfree wavelength conversion based on cross-gain and crossphase modulation (XGM, XPM) in a single SOA has been demonstrated at up to 320 Gb/s [2]. However, using XGM and XPM implies that the same SOA cannot be used to convert signals of different modulation formats or speeds, as required additional manipulation of the signal, implies altering the convertor [2].…”

“…Errorfree wavelength conversion based on cross-gain and crossphase modulation (XGM, XPM) in a single SOA has been demonstrated at up to 320 Gb/s [2]. However, using XGM and XPM implies that the same SOA cannot be used to convert signals of different modulation formats or speeds, as required additional manipulation of the signal, implies altering the convertor [2]. Recently [3], a single convertor design has been suggested to perform both DPSK and OOK conversion, however the suggested convertor can only convert one of these modulation formats at any given time, requires more than a single SOA for operation and has a noticeable high penalty for alternating modulation formats.…”