All-optical signal Processing and applications within the esprit project DO/spl I.bar/ALL

This paper reviews the work performed under the European ESPRIT project DO/spl I.bar/ALL (Digital OpticAL Logic modules) spanning from advanced devices (semiconductor optical amplifiers) to all-optical modules (laser sources and gates) and from optical signal processing subsystems (packet clock recovery, optical write/store memory, and linear feedback shift register) to their integration in the application level for the demonstration of nontrivial logic functionality (all-optical bit-error-rate tester and a 2/spl times/2 exchange-bypass switch). The successful accomplishment of the project's goals has opened the road for the implementation of more complex ultra-high-speed all-optical signal processing circuits that are key elements for the realization of all-optical packet switching networks.