Abstract
In order to keep up with expected growth in data traffic, using multiple bands beyond the C band is an appealing solution as it can partly reuse deployed optical fibers. One way of handling multi-band data generation and reception is by using all-optical wavelength converters (AOWCs) to translate to or from the C band, where commercial equipment is easily available. In this work, we therefore designed and realized an AOWC targeting C-to-S band conversion. To respect the requirements of commercial applications, we aimed for a low-complexity high-bandwidth implementation with reasonably low power consumption, tolerance for typical process variations and potential for further integration. Thus we implemented the AOWC as a strip waveguide in a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. An optimization of the conversion bandwidth was conducted during design and initial characterizations confirmed a conversion efficiency of −32.8 dB and a high bandwidth of about 35 nm with grating couplers and likely beyond 50 nm for edge couplers. Using the fabricated converters, we were able to demonstrate a marginal 0.3 dB optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) penalty for a back-to-back (b2b) transmission of a single-channel single-polarization 32 GBd quadrature-phase-shift keying (QPSK) signal converted from C to S band. Additionally, this converted signal was successfully transmitted over 100 km of standard single-mode fiber (SSMF). Finally, crosstalk issues arising in multi-channel conversion were investigated.
PDF Article
More Like This
Cited By
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription