An all Optical VCSEL Wavelength Conversion for Optical Fibre Access Networks

Abstract

A cheap, scalable and efficient optical wavelength conversion and optical path switching technique for access networks is experimentally demonstrated. Wavelength conversion is used in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems and networks to accommodate multiple channels within a single optical fibre link. This technique can be used to route data from one wavelength to an idle path/wavelength hence improve efficient channel utilization in the grid. In this paper, the process of wavelength conversion has been experimentally realized by optically injecting a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) master laser into the side-mode of a second laser VCSEL cavity (slave). This paper provides a 10 dB extinction ratio of the dominant wavelength in the slave VCSEL laser within the 1550 nm wavelengths transmission region. This study is relevant to reconfigurable metro-access networks for wavelength and path assignment in optical fibre transport, which forms the backbone for high speed optical data transport. With distinct wavelength assignment and conversion, an optical switch can be used to direct and redirect a wavelength to the designated user at the terminal of an access network.