Data Transparent and Polarization Insensitive All-Optical Switch based on Fibers with Enhanced Nonlinearity

Abstract

We have developed a data transparent optical packet switch prototype employing wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing. The switch is composed of an electro-optical control unit and an all-optical switching segment. To achieve higher switching efficiencies, Ge-doped silica suspended-core and chalcogenide arsenicselenide single-mode fibers were experimentally evaluated and compared to conventional highly-nonlinear fiber. Improved connectorization technology has been developed for Ge-doped suspended-core fiber, where we achieved connection losses of 0.9 dB. For the arsenic-selenide fiber we present a novel solid joint technology, with connection losses of only 0.25 dB, which is the lowest value presented up-to-date. Conversion efficiency of -13.7 dB was obtained for the highly-nonlinear fiber, which is in perfect correlation with previously published results and thus verifies the functionality of the prototype. Conversion efficiency of -16.1 dB was obtained with arsenic-selenide fiber length reduced to five meters within simulations, based on measurement results with a 26 m long component. Employment of such a short arsenic-selenide fiber segment allows significant broadening of the wavelength conversion spectral range due to possible neglection of dispersion.