Experiments on 40 Gb/s Transmission with Wavelength Conversion: Results from the IST ATLAS Project

In-Fieldn× 40 Gb/s Transmission Experiments with In-Line All-Optical Wavelength Conversion

“…Several techniques to implement an AOWC have been studied and reported in the literature [8,9]. Usually, wavelength conversion experiments performed in communication systems exploit one of the following techniques: four-wave mixing in highly nonlinear fibers (HNLFs), nonlinear effects in semi-conductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), or parametric difference frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide (PPLN) [8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…Usually, wavelength conversion experiments performed in communication systems exploit one of the following techniques: four-wave mixing in highly nonlinear fibers (HNLFs), nonlinear effects in semi-conductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), or parametric difference frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide (PPLN) [8][9][10][11][12]. The major problem given by the use of HNLFs is that the conditions assuring high conversion efficiency, i.e., high signal power and high nonlinear coefficient, enhance signal distortion because of self-and cross-phase modulation effects.…”

“…In fact, we refer to electrical multiplexer (4 × 10 Gbit/s to 1 × 40 Gbit/s, ETDM), electrical demultiplexer (1 × 40 Gbit/s to 4 × 10 Gbit/s, EDMUX), 40 Gbit/s photodiode, and a front-end. Details about fabricated devices are reported in Pizzinat et al [8] and Matera et al [9].…”

“…Furthermore, due to traffic growth and to the ever-increasing number of accomplishments within 40-Gbit/s field trials, we believe that future telecommunication transport networks, especially those operating over wide geographical areas, will be based on N × 40 Gbit/s transmission systems [4], even though the network design in this environment requires many ingenious contrivances [5][6][7]. Recently, several experiments have shown how different processes and materials can be exploited to achieve wavelength conversion [8,9].…”

“…The aim of the IST ATLAS project was the experimental demonstration of N × 40 Gbit/s transmission over long terrestrial distances including AOWC along signal propagation (for more details on the IST ATLAS project see the www.fub.it/atlas/, Pizzinat et al [8], and Matera et al [9]). In this framework, four different AOWC methods have previously been investigated: Four-wave mixing (FWM) in 1) semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) and in 2) dispersion-shifted (DS) fibers, 3) a frequency generation based on the cascade process in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), and 4) the switching properties of multiple quantum wells (MQW).…”