All-optical TDM-to-WDM data format conversion in a dynamically reconfigurable WDM network

We demonstrate both single-stage and two-stage all-optical TDM-to-WDM data format convertors based on cross-gain compression in an SOA. Our method simultaneously time demultiplexes and wavelength shifts each channel's data within a TDM packet. We convert a 2-Gb/s 4-channel TDM data stream at 1552 mn into four 500-Mb/s WDM channels at 1535, 1537, 1540, and 1571 mm. Moreover, we extend this single-stage approach by demonstrating a two-stage TDM-to-WDM convertor that selectively time demultiplexes and wavelength shifts a 2-Gb/s TDM input data stream into two 500-Mb/s WDM channels after the second stage. We find that low power penalties (<2 dB) can be achieved by using this scheme for both the single- and two-stage cases. This conversion scheme may be quite useful in WDM switching nodes.<
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