Open AccessAll-optical wavelength-routing switch with monolithically integrated filter-free tunable wavelength converters and an AWG
Author(s) -
Takehiko Segawa,
Shinji Matsuo,
Takaaki Kakitsuka,
Y. Shibata,
Tomonari Sato,
Yoshihiro Kawaguchi,
Y. Kondo,
Ryo Takahashi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.004340
Subject(s) - arrayed waveguide grating , optical switch , materials science , optics , wavelength , optical filter , wavelength division multiplexing , optoelectronics , physics
We present a compact 4x8 wavelength-routing switch that monolithically integrates fast tunable wavelength converters (TWCs) and an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) for optical packet switching. The TWC consists of a double-ring-resonator-coupled tunable laser which allows rapid and stable switching, and an optical gate based on a parallel amplifier structure which prevents an input optical signal from being routed through the AWG (filter-free operation). A deep-ridge waveguide technology, employed for the AWG and ring resonators, facilitates the fabrication of the switch and makes the device compact. The filter-free TWCs achieve low crosstalk of the input optical signal of less than -22 dB. The wavelength routing operation of a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signal at 10 Gbit/s is achieved with a switching time of less than 5 ns.