An all-optical WDM-to-TDM conversion scheme with simultaneous all-optical synchronization for WDM/OTDM network nodes

We present an all-optical WDM-to-TDM conversion scheme with simultaneous al l-optical synchronization that can be utilized in switching nodes of very h igh-speed WDM/OTDM hybrid communication systems. The scheme, which utilizes a nonlinear optical loop mirror in conjunction with a synchronously modelo cked semiconductor laser, is experimentally demonstrated by WDM-to-TDM conv ersion of two optical channels in a switching node. The optical time divisi on multiplexed output has a potential total throughput of approximate to 40 Gb/s. This all-optical scheme removes limitations of restricted bandwidth of electronics at switching nodes and also has advantages over existing opt ical time division multiplexing schemes.