Regenerative optical routing using a combined sampled-grating DBR laser and 16/spl times/16 arrayed waveguide grating

Summary form only given. In this work, for the first time, a regenerative wavelength routing switch has been constructed using tuneable lasers to implement regenerative wavelength conversion. Both laser and integrated laser amplifier components have been shown to allow combined wavelength conversion and regeneration. In this paper, a tunable SG-DBR laser is used to allow prototype testing of one input path to the switch. The laser has a broad tuning range of about 40 nm, the output wavelength being tuned by the selection of bias current to four different sections. A 16 /spl times/ 16 AWG is then used to provide the full routing function. Q factor measurements as a function of received power show that for low received power where the S/N ratio is poor, a good improvement in the signal quality is achieved because of regeneration. An IPDR of about 10 dB has been demonstrated for the router.