All-optical wavelength conversion for 20-Gb/s RZ format data

We have successfully demonstrated an all-optical wavelength conversion scheme for high-speed return-to-zero (RZ) format data input by using a semiconductor-optical-amplifier (SOA) converter incorporated with a stabilized asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer (AMZI). A bit-error-rate penalty of the converted signals less than 1.2 dB compared to that of the back-to-back signals was achieved for the entire wavelength conversion range from 1530 to 1560 nm with an AMZI. In this scheme, the conversion speed faster than the carrier recombination rate of the SOAs was possible. Noninverted wavelength conversion of 20-Gb/s RZ format data signals has been achieved.