Experimental demonstration of a simple, optically transparent, add/drop multiplexer at 2.5 Gb/s without local optical source

We present a novel add/drop multiplexer and experimentally demonstrate its operation at 2.5 Gb/s. No local laser is needed since the wavelength- and modulation format transparent 'add' is accomplished by using optical switches, delay lines and the 'dropped' input. Applications are found in flexible, high capacity WDM networks.