Ultrafast All-Optical Synchronous Multiple Access Fiber Networks

Two synchronous multiple access schemes, TDMA and CDMA, are proposed for fiber optic networks using optical signal processing. Network synchronization is achieved by using a central modelocked laser which also serves as the source for each station. The data are converted into a high-bandwidth optical signal using electrooptic modulators. The accessing schemes use optical fiber delay lines. The feasibility of these schemes is discussed.