Demultiplexing of 168-Gb/s data pulses with a hybrid-integrated symmetric Mach-Zehnder all-optical switch

We have developed a hybrid-integrated symmetric Mach-Zehnder all-optical sw itch and evaluated the demultiplexing of 168-Gb/s data pulses at a repetiti on rate of 10 GHz with this switch. A compact, stable de,ice was realized b y assembling semiconductor optical amplifiers as nonlinear waveguides on a planar lightwave circuit in a self-aligned manner, A 6.0-ps switching windo w needed for 168-Gb/s demultiplexing was provided by the push-pull operatio n of the symmetric Mach-Zehnder all-optical switch. Demultiplexed signal li ght showed a high extinction ratio of better than 18 dB, Error-free demulti plexing with a bit error rate of 10(-11) was achieved.