Abstract

WDM networks require wavelength conversions to avoid blocking and to provide scalability.¹ Wavelength conversion techniques utilizing gain-saturation in semiconductor optical amplifiers provide a relatively simple wavelength cross-connect architecture, but a signal deterioration due to large noise, positive chirps, and poor contrast ratios is a serious problem for high-capacity WDM network applications. Difference frequency generation (DFG), on the other hand, offers a transparent wavelength conversion with quantum-noise limited operation. Its chirp-reversal and multi-wavelength conversion capabilities can also impact future high-capacity WDM network applications.

© 1995 Optical Society of America