All-optical 2x2 switch by exploiting optical nonlinearities in a single semiconductor optical amplifier

Claudio Porzi; Lingmei Ma; Mirco Scaffardi; Minyu Yao; Luca Potì; Antonella Bogoni

doi:10.1117/12.842234

22 January 2010 All-optical 2x2 switch by exploiting optical nonlinearities in a single semiconductor optical amplifier

Claudio Porzi, Lingmei Ma, Mirco Scaffardi, Minyu Yao, Luca Potì, Antonella Bogoni

Proceedings Volume 7621, Optical Metro Networks and Short-Haul Systems II; 76210C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.842234
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

A 2x2 cross/bar optically-driven switch is implemented with a single semiconductor optical amplifier. The switch exploits nonlinear polarization rotation experienced by two input signals in the amplifier in presence of a control pump light. The two input data signals travel in opposite directions inside the amplifier. In absence of the control light, the lowpower input signals do not experience nonlinear effects inside the amplifier; when the pump light is applied, both the input data signals experience cross-phase modulation, which reflects in nonlinear polarization rotation for the output signals due to polarization-dependent carriers modulation in the semiconductor amplifier. Polarizes are then used in the output paths in order to discriminate the output packets for the two possible cases of control pump signal in the ON and OFF state. Bit error rate measurements demonstrate error-free operation for both the possible switch configurations. By letting the input signals to travel the amplifier in opposite directions this architecture enables operation with data packets at the same wavelength. The switch speed is limited by the carriers recombination time in the amplifier, in the order of few hundreds of ps. Semiconductor technology allows implementation of compact, cost-effective, and low-power operating all-optical devices.

Citation Download Citation

Claudio Porzi, Lingmei Ma, Mirco Scaffardi, Minyu Yao, Luca Potì, and Antonella Bogoni "All-optical 2x2 switch by exploiting optical nonlinearities in a single semiconductor optical amplifier", Proc. SPIE 7621, Optical Metro Networks and Short-Haul Systems II, 76210C (22 January 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.842234

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