All-optical WDM-to-TDM conversion with total capacity of 33 Gb/s for WDM network links

We demonstrate all-optical WDM-to-TDM conversion in a switching node with a total throughput of 33 Gb/s. This is the highest throughput ever reported using a low timing jitter monolithic mode-locked semiconductor laser and a nonlinear optical loop mirror. The NOLM serves as an N/spl times/1 wavelength converter and the node has a unified output wavelength at 1554 nm. Wavelength-to-time-domain conversion using the node is simulated by inputting two data channels each at 1 Gb/s. This scheme is proposed to serve as an interface between independent high capacity WDM networks to avoid the limitations imposed by the optical bandwidth and unequal gain of EDFAs in optical networking and to minimize the deleterious effect of fiber nonlinearities during transmissions. The switching node for multiwavelength operation based on the wavelength dependence of the switching characteristics of the NOLM is also evaluated.