Ultrafast All-Optical Wavelength Routing of Data Packets Utilizing an SOA-Based Wavelength Converter and a Monolithically Integrated Optical FlipaFlop

• Published in: IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics Vol. 14; no. 3
• Main Authors: Liu, Y, Tangdiongga, E, Hill, M T, van Zantvoort, JHC, den Besten, JH, de Vries, T, Smalbrugge, E, Oei, Yok-Siang, Leijtens, XJM, Smit, M K, Koonen, AMJ, Khoe, G D, Dorren, HJS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Converters; Electronic control; Flip-flops; Lasers; Noise levels; Switches; Switching; Wavelengths
• DOI: 10.1109/JSTQE.2008.918240
• ISSN: 1077-260X

We demonstrate all-optical wavelength routing of 80 Gb/s data packets without using electronic control. The system consists of an optical wavelength converter and a monolithically integrated optical flip-flop memory. The integrated optical flip-flop is based on two coupled lasers, exhibiting single-mode operation, having a 35 dB contrast ratio between the states, and switching its state in about 2 ns. The wavelength converter is optically controlled by the optical flip-flop. We show that the optical set and reset pulses can force the optical flip-flop to switch its continuous-wave output light between two specific wavelength positions. The output light feeds the wavelength converter, which, in turn, converts the data packet into the flip-flop's output wavelength, causing the data packet to be routed into a specific port.