All-optical modulation and demultiplexing systems with significant timing jitter tolerance through incorporation of pulse-shaping fiber Bragg gratings

• Published in: IEEE photonics technology letters 2002-02, Vol.14 (2), p.203-205
• Main Authors: Ju Han Lee, Peh Chiong Teh, Petropoulos, P., Ibsen, M., Richardson, D.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bragg gratings; Demultiplexing; Fiber nonlinear optics; Nonlinearity; Optical fibers; Optical pulses; Optical sensors; Optical solitons; Optical switches; Pulse amplifiers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Semiconductors; Solitons; Stimulated emission; Switches; Switching; Timing jitter
• ISSN: 1041-1135; 1941-0174
• DOI: 10.1109/68.980517

In this letter, we demonstrate the use of a superstructured fiber Bragg grating to preshape optical pulses to obtain optimal operation of nonlinear all-optical switches. Specifically, we demonstrate the conversion of 2.5-ps soliton pulses into 20-ps rectangular pulses at the input to both fiber and semiconductor optical amplifier-based switches, and show that rectangular switching windows can be achieved thereby providing a 5-10-fold reduction in timing jitter sensitivity. Error free penalty free optical time-division-multiplexing switching was readily achieved over a /spl plusmn/7-ps timing mismatch range for the square pulse driven fiber nonlinear optical loop mirror switch versus a /spl plusmn/1-ps range for the switch driven directly with 2.5-ps laser pulses.