A novel 1/spl times/4 coupler-multiplexer permutation switch for WDM applications

Author

Ramadan, Tarek A. ; Scarmozzino, Robert ; Osgood, Richard M., Jr.

Author_Institution

Microelectron. Sci. Lab., Columbia Univ., New York, NY, USA

Volume

18

Issue

4

fYear

2000

fDate

4/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

579

Lastpage

588

Abstract

A novel 1/spl times/4 coupler multiplexer permutation switch (CMPS) is proposed for applications in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. The structure of the CMPS integrates the multiplexing and switching functions into a single compact device. It consists of a single-mode/multimode-waveguide grating-assisted, backward-coupler multiplexer followed by a 1/spl times/4 digital optical switch (DOS). The specific design uses an InP-based 1/spl times/4 CMPS with InGaAsP-InP multiple-quantum-well (MQW) DOS. The calculated values of crosstalk for the coupler multiplexer and the DOS are <-25 dB and -23 dB, respectively, giving an overall crosstalk <-21 dB for channel bandwidths of 10-13 GHz. The device channels are unequally spaced, which reduces unwanted four-wave mixing (FWM), but are fitted to the ITU standard wavelength grid.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; diffraction gratings; electro-optical switches; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; multiplexing equipment; optical communication equipment; optical couplers; optical crosstalk; optical fibre networks; semiconductor quantum wells; telecommunication channels; wavelength division multiplexing; 1/spl times/4 coupler-multiplexer permutation switch; 1/spl times/4 digital optical switch; 10 to 13 GHz; ITU standard wavelength grid; InGaAsP-InP; InGaAsP-InP multiple-quantum-well; InP; InP-based 1/spl times/4 CMPS; WDM applications; WDM optical networks; channel bandwidths; compact device; coupler multiplexer; multimode-waveguide grating-assisted backward-coupler multiplexer; multiplexing functions; overall crosstalk; single-mode; switching functions; unwanted four-wave mixing; wavelength-division-multiplexing; Bandwidth; Crosstalk; Four-wave mixing; Gratings; Optical coupling; Optical fiber networks; Optical switches; Quantum well devices; WDM networks; Wavelength division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.838133

Filename

838133