New generation of devices for all-optical communications

To increase the transmission capacity of future communication networks is b ecoming very critical. This task can only be accomplished by taking advanta ge of optical networks where multiplexing techniques such as Dense Waveleng th Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Optical Time Division Multiplexing (OTD M) are employed. To avoid electronic bottlenecks a whole new generation of ultrafast devices is needed. To fulfill these needs a new class of all opti cal devices has been proposed and developed. By taking advantage of the non linear dynamics in semiconductor optical amplifiers in combination with the fiber interferometers a new generation of ultrafast all-optical demultiple xers and wavelength converters has been demonstrated. Other switching techn ologies are also promising for the future. The latest technologies in the a rea of micro-machining have created very attractive low cost MEMS. Recently announced use of bubble technology for all-optical switching might also le ad to the development of next generation large scale switching fabrics. Thi s paper is an overview of the recent development in these areas.