WAVELENGTH CONVERSION AT 10 GB S USING A SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER/

Data at 10 Gb/s has been translated from an input signal wavelength to another wavelength, either longer dr shorter, using gain compression in a 1.5-mu m semiconductor optical amplifier for wavelength conversio n. To achieve operation at such high bit rates, the probe (shifted) in put must be intense enough to compress significantly the gain of the a mplifier. This reduces the gain recovery time of the amplifier because of probe stimulated emission. A consequence of the intense probe is a n extinction ratio reduction. Using moderate input powers, wavelength conversion is achieved over a 17 nm (2 THz) range, with 0.7-3 dB power penalties.