10 Gb/s wavelength conversion with integrated multiquantum-well-based 3-port Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Abstract

All-optical wavelength conversion of 10 Gb/s data with simultaneous regeneration of the extinction ratio is achieved by means of a monolithic 3-port Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The reported devices are based on an all active multiquantum-well waveguide structure with optical amplifiers in the input/output gates. Wavelength conversion is realized by optical cross-phase modulation in a counter propagative operation mode without applying an optical filter. The 3-port Mach-Zehnder interferometer can provide either inversion or noninversion of wavelength converted 10 Gb/s data.