Abstract

This work is aimed at solving the problem of routing in a "linear" lightwave network (LLN).¹ A LLN is an optical network in which the network nodes perform only linear operations on optical signals: power combining, dividing, and possibly linear (i.e., nonregenerative) amplification. The transport of a signal from a transmitter to a receiver is all optical, with no electro-optic conversion taking place anywhere except at the transmitters and receivers themselves. Thus, the network contains no electronic bottlenecks. LLN's can have arbitrary mesh-type topologies for reliability and load distribution.

© 1991 Optical Society of America