Abstract

As fiber optics and optoelectronics technologies become, more and more, the technologies of choice for a wide range of communications transmission facility applications. It is useful to ask what role optoelectronic technologies can play in implementing communications switching facilities. What are the basic technologies which can be used to realize all-optical switching functions? How can these basic technologies be applied to implement various types of switching subsystem? What are the time frames anticipated for these various applications of photonic switching technology?

© 1985 Optical Society of America