Abstract

The last decade has witnessed important advances in the area of optical communications. Unfortunately, technological progress has often outpaced system developments. Breakthroughs in wavelength conversion devices, high performance lasers, optical amplification, high-speed switching, and high-density optoelectronic integration have not always been matched by corresponding system applications [1-3]. As a result, optics remains mostly confined to the transport of information whereas switching and processing are still heavily dominated by electronics. Successful photonic switching applications will certainly for some time to come depend on both electronic and optical capabilities.

© 1993 Optical Society of America