High-speed header processing using synchronized fiber lasers driving all-optic logic gates

We show all-optic logic gates driven by synchronized erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs) to perform 100 Gb/s header processing in TDM packetized networks or optical add/drop multiplexers. We experimentally demonstrate AND and XOR logic functions in low-birefringent nonlinear optical loop mirrors (Low-Bi-NOLMs) with switching energy as low as 9 pJ and peak switching contrast of 8:1. We show that the Low-Bi-NOLMs satisfy decision-making capabilities in a header processor such as cascadability and Boolean-complete logic functions. Our novel AOM-grating scheme of synchronization provides 30 times the length and 10 times the bandwidth as compared to the scheme using piezo-electric transducers (PZTs). We have achieved synchronization of two passively mode-locked EDFLs with a timing jitter of approximately 1.3 times the pulse width. We are now integrating the synchronized EDFLs and all-optic logic gates, which are key components for packet addressing for 100 Gb/s applications.