All-optical signal processing using highly-nonlinear optical fibers

The effectiveness and possible applications of all-optical signal processin g using highly-nonlinear dispersion-shifted fibers (HNL-DSFs) are described . Transparent and simultaneous processings of multi-channels WDM signal are key features of optical fiber processors. Simultaneous wavelength conversi on of 32 x 10 Gb/s WDM signal by four-wave mixing, all-optical 3R regenerat ion of 2 x 20 Gb/s WDM signal using nonlinear loop mirrors, and simultaneou s recovery of 20 x 20 GHz WDM optical clocks by supercontinuum were success fully demonstrated using HNL-DSFs, and possible applications of ultra-fast and multi-channel processing in future photonic networks are discussed.