Monolithic Integrated Slot-Blocker for High Datarate Coherent Optical Slot Switched Networks

Recent progresses on monolithic SOI-based integration are presented for achieving high-performance slot-blocker for cost-sensitive metropolitan and datacenter networks. We review several nodes architectures for such optical slot switching ring networks. Such devices integrate up to 65 functional elements, allowing complex operations such as polarization and wavelength (de)multiplexing with sub-wavelength switching capability. Compact footprint, fast switching time (below 10 ns) as well as high extinction ratio (more than 20 dB) are demonstrated. We demonstrate the fast add/drop operation of advanced modulation formats (56/80 Gbit/s SP-QPSK, 128 Gbit/s PDM-QPSK, 256 Gbit/s PDM-16QAM, and 320 Gbit/s PDM-32QAM) using three generations of integrated slot-blockers.