Title :
Nonlinear optical loop mirror with an optical bias controller for achieving full-swing operation of gate switching
Author :
Sakamoto, Takahide ; Kikuchi, Kazuro
Author_Institution :
Res. Center for Adv. Sci. & Technol., Univ. of Tokyo, Japan
Abstract :
Cross-phase modulation between counterpropagating lights degrades the extinction ratio of nonlinear optical-loop-mirror (NOLM) switches. To suppress such effect, we propose an NOLM with an optical-bias controller that can give a proper amount of optical bias between lights propagating through an NOLM in opposite directions. Implementing such optical bias controller in a conventional NOLM composed of a polarization-maintaining fiber, we demonstrate, for the first time, wavelength conversion of a nonreturn-to-zero signal under the full-swing condition with the maximum extinction ratio.
Keywords :
mirrors; optical control; optical fibres; optical modulation; optical switches; optical wavelength conversion; phase modulation; NOLM; counterpropagating light; cross-phase modulation; extinction ratio; full-swing operation; gate switching; nonlinear optical loop mirror; nonlinear-loop-mirror switches; nonreturn-to-zero signal; optical bias controller; polarization-maintaining fiber; wavelength conversion; Degradation; Extinction ratio; Fiber nonlinear optics; Mirrors; Nonlinear optics; Optical control; Optical fiber polarization; Optical modulation; Optical switches; Optical wavelength conversion;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2003.821061