Wavelength conversion using semiconductor optical amplifiers

This paper reports a detailed theoretical study of the dynamics of wavelength conversion using cross-gain and cross-phase modulation in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA's) involving a large signal, multisection rate equation model. Using this model, recently reported experimental results have been correctly predicted and the effects of electrical and optical pumping on the conversion speed, modulation index, and phase variation of the converted signal have been considered. The model predicts, in agreement with experimental data, that recovery rates as low as 12 ps are possible if signal and pump powers in excess of 14 dBm are used. It also indicates that conversion speeds up to 40 Gb/s may be achieved with less than 3 dB dynamic penalty. The employment of cross-phase modulation increases the speed allowing, for example, an improvement to 60 Gb/s with an excess loss penalty less than 1 dB.

Hybridisation platform demonstrating all optical wavelength conversion at 10 and 20Gbit/s

The development of a high performance hybrid integration platform is demonstrated using an all optical wavelength converter based on an integrated SOA MZI. The device structure, transfer functions, power penalties and regenerative properties are presented. © 2004 Optical Society of America.

Optimization of semiconductor optical amplifiers for all optical wavelength conversion

In recent years a variety of experimental and theoretical work has been reported on the use of semiconductor optical amplifiers for high speed wavelength conversion. However little work has addressed the dynamic limitations of this conversion process in detail with a view to device optimization. In this paper, a detailed study of the conversion process is carried out in order to optimize device parameters and drive conditions for increased conversion speed and improved modulation index.

High-speed wavelength conversion utilizing birefringence in semiconductor optical amplifiers

This paper describes a novel technique whereby a mixture of cross-phase and cross-gain modulation effects in an SOA causes polarization rotation of a cw probe beam in the presence of a signal pulse, enabling the transmission of the probe through a polarizer to be controlled. The benefits of this approach are: 1) Very high extinction ratios present in the wavelength converted signal (>30 achieved); 2) A non-inverted wavelength converted signal, which is advantageous for chirp-compensation;2 3) A simple and stable experimental set-up, 4) Converted pulses which can be shaped to be faster than the input pulses.