Design optimization of all-active Mach-Zehnder wavelength converters

An integrated all-active Mach-Zehnder wavelength converter, optimized for 10-Gb/s counterpropagative operation, is described. The various active sections of the device were separately designed, taking into account their required functions as well as the constraints imposed by the all-active integration. The resulting optimizations are discussed, and the predicted performance parameters confirmed by experimental results.