Multiple-wavelength conversion with gain by a high-repetition-rate pulsed-pump fiber OPA

The authors propose and demonstrate a novel multiple-wavelength converter with gain, based on a pulsed-pump fiber optical parametric amplifier (OPA). It generates multiple replicas of the signal, as well as spectrally inverted versions. The device is modeled by using quasi-steady-state OPA gain equations, as well as by the split-step Fourier method. Predicted conversion gains of up to 20 dB have been confirmed by experiments. A 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) input signal was converted into several replicas, with penalties ranging from 0.26 to 1.24 dB for frequency shifts of /spl plusmn/k/spl times/100 GHz (k=1, 2, 3, 4).