Time-domain 16-bit label swapping and self-routing of 40-Gb/s burst optical packets

A novel scheme for time-domain programmable label swapping for burst-mode asynchronous optical packets is described. Label recognition of input signals and generation of output signals with corresponding new labels are achieved by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor circuit sandwiched between input and output interfaces (all-optical serial-to-parallel and photonic parallel-to-serial converters, respectively) for fast serial-bit optical labels. Accurate synchronization in operating these interfaces is accomplished with an optical single-clock-pulse generator. Self-routing with 16-bit label swapping of 40-Gb/s optical packets is demonstrated.