Monolithically integrated parallel amplifiers structure for filter-free wavelength conversion

Parallel amplifiers structure (PAS) is proposed for filter-free wavelength conversion based on the cross-gain-modulation of a semiconductor optical amplifier. The PAS is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer having a polarization insensitive semiconductor optical amplifier in each arm, and was fabricated monolithically by butt-coupling of high-mesa and buried waveguides. Filter-free wavelength conversion in the co-propagative made is demonstrated at a bit rate of 10 Gbit/s using the fabricated PAS. Clear eye opening and a power penalty as low as 0.9 dB were achieved.