TY - JOUR
T1 - Simple rules for optimizing asymmetries in SOA-based Mach-Zehnder wavelength converters
AU - Dailey, James M.
AU - Koch, Thomas L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Manuscript received July 18, 2008; revised October 31, 2008. First published April 24, 2009; current version published May 13, 2009. This work was supported by Alcatel-Lucent Bell Laboratories under Project DARPA DOD-N IRIS, and the State of Pennsylvania under BFTDA Grant ME#21-116-0014. The authors are with the Center for Optical Technologies, Lehigh University, Bethehem, PA 18015 USA (email: [email protected]; [email protected]). Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/JLT.2009.2012875
PY - 2009/6/1
Y1 - 2009/6/1
N2 - In this paper, we present an analysis of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based differential Mach-Zehnder wavelength converters with a specific focus on optimizing performance through intentional asymmetries in optical power splitting, SOA bias, and interferometer phase bias. By introducing a simple conceptual framework for understanding the amplifier pulse dynamics, two simple yet effective design rules are derived. These design rules are validated using pseudorandom code in a comprehensive computer model, demonstrating the performance penalties that result when attempting optimization using only unequal SOA biasing or phase biasing. This work illustrates that dramatic improvements in extinction and eye margin can be achieved with optimized splitter asymmetries, and have significant implications for improved network performance and converter cascadability.
AB - In this paper, we present an analysis of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based differential Mach-Zehnder wavelength converters with a specific focus on optimizing performance through intentional asymmetries in optical power splitting, SOA bias, and interferometer phase bias. By introducing a simple conceptual framework for understanding the amplifier pulse dynamics, two simple yet effective design rules are derived. These design rules are validated using pseudorandom code in a comprehensive computer model, demonstrating the performance penalties that result when attempting optimization using only unequal SOA biasing or phase biasing. This work illustrates that dramatic improvements in extinction and eye margin can be achieved with optimized splitter asymmetries, and have significant implications for improved network performance and converter cascadability.
KW - Optical frequency conversion
KW - Optical switches
KW - Optoelectronic devices
KW - Semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)
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U2 - 10.1109/JLT.2009.2012875
DO - 10.1109/JLT.2009.2012875
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:66949150216
SN - 0733-8724
VL - 27
SP - 1480
EP - 1488
JO - Journal of Lightwave Technology
JF - Journal of Lightwave Technology
IS - 11
ER -