Title :
Ultrafast optical packet switching using low optical pulse energies in a self-synchronization scheme
Author :
Tang, J.M. ; Spencer, P.S. ; Rees, P. ; Shore, K.A.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Inf., Univ. of Wales, Bangor, UK
fDate :
12/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A detailed numerical treatment is undertaken to investigate the operating characteristics of a self-synchronization scheme based on a modified terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer (TOAD) device for ultrafast packet switching. The simulations agree with published experimental measurements. It is shown that input picosecond optical pulse energies as low as /spl sim/100 fJ can be utilized to achieve a larger than 10 dB contrast ratio of the first to the remaining pulses of a transmitted signal packet. The utilization of low input pulse energies in the scheme also provides significant advantages including insensitivity of contrast ratio to pulse energies and pulse widths as well as distortionless extracted pulse shapes. Means for achieving a maximum contrast ratio are identified.
Keywords :
demultiplexing; high-speed optical techniques; optical saturation; packet switching; symmetry; synchronisation; 100 fJ; THz optical asymmetric demultiplexer; TOAD device; contrast ratio; distortionless extracted pulse shapes; low optical pulse energies; maximum contrast ratio; numerical treatment; operating characteristics; picosecond optical pulse energies; self-synchronization scheme; terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer; transmitted signal packet; ultrafast optical packet switching; Optical devices; Optical distortion; Optical packet switching; Optical pulse shaping; Optical pulses; Packet switching; Pulse shaping methods; Shape; Space vector pulse width modulation; Ultrafast optics;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
