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Monolithic active-passive 16 × 16 optoelectronic switch
R Stabile1, A Albores-Mejia, K A Williams
1Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, COBRA Research Institute, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands. r.stabile@tue.nl
Optics Letters
|November 21, 2012
Summary
This study introduces the first monolithic 16x16 active-passive optical switch using semiconductor optical amplifier gates. It demonstrates efficient 10 Gb/s signal routing with high signal quality for advanced optical networks.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Integrated Optics
- Telecommunications
Background:
- The demand for high-capacity optical communication networks necessitates advanced switching technologies.
- Monolithic integration of active and passive optical components is crucial for compact and efficient optical systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the first active-passive monolithically integrated 16x16 optical switch.
- To demonstrate the performance of semiconductor optical amplifier gates in a nonblocking switch architecture.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 16x16 switch integrating active InP/InGaAsP semiconductor optical amplifier gates with passive elements.
- Assessment of 32 representative signal paths, covering shortest, longest, and intermediate routes.
- Testing of 10 Gb/s signal routing performance.
Main Results:
- Successful demonstration of a monolithic 16x16 active-passive optical switch.
- Achieved optical signal-to-noise ratio up to 28.3 dB/0.1 nm.
- Exceeded a signal extinction ratio of 50 dB for 10 Gb/s signals.
Conclusions:
- The developed switch represents a significant advancement in integrated photonic switching.
- The device architecture and performance metrics are suitable for high-speed optical communication systems.
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