Demonstration and performance analysis for the off-ramp portion of an all-optical access node

Ultrafast processing of packets is demonstrated and the performance analyze d for the off-ramp portion of an all-optical access node. The off-ramp cons ists of synchronized fiber lasers driving an all-optical header processor t hat includes nonlinear optical loop mirrors (NOLM), electrooptic router, an d demultiplexer in the form of a two-wavelength NOLM. We achieve switching contrasts of 10:1 for the header processor and demultiplexer with switching energies of 10 pJ and 1 pJ, respectively. Also, a proposed measurement tec hnique to obtain eye diagrams is used to analyze the all-optical header pro cessor using the synchronized lasers. Using this technique, we obtain an ey e diagram with a Q value of 7.1+/-0.36, which corresponds to a worst case B ER value of 8.8 x 10(-12) for a 95% confidence level. Finally, simulation m odels are used to verify and compare the experimental results, and we find good agreement. We also use the model to study the various causes for the d egradation of the Q value through our system.