Interferometric wavelength converter operating at 10 Gb/s based on a monolithic-integrated photonic circuit

In this work we present a wavelength converter based on a Michelson interfe rometer. It is obtained by monolithic integration of two-semiconductor opti cal amplifiers with a passive waveguided X-coupler incorporating turning mi rrors. It operates in the 1.55 mu m spectral window and allows the waveleng th conversion of data streams up to 10 Gb/s, showing open-eye diagrams and extinction-ratio regeneration capabilities. Comparison of two structures wi th different active layers and their influence on the polarization sensitiv ity is also presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.