title: All-optical wavelength-routing switch with monolithically integrated filter-free tunable wavelength converters and an AWG.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NTT Photonics Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0198, Japan. segawa@aecl.ntt.co.jp
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakitsuka
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Tomonari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takahashi