Optical label detection using optical interleavers

We propose a novel and simple technique for the detection of subcarrier-multiplexed (SCM) labels using optical interleavers in optical label switching networks. 155-Mb/s ASK modulated 10-GHz SCM labels have been extracted successfully with an insertion loss of less than 0.4 dB by using 10-GHz optical interleavers. Average optical power required for a BER of 10/sup -9/ was measured to be -24.59 dBm at the label extraction port.