WDM ring network employing a shared multiwavelength incoherent source

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a novel wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) ring-network for wide-area, local-area, and access networks. The network employs a single, shared, multiwavelength incoherent source that is remotely located from network nodes. The use of a single incoherent source provides a straight-forward means of wavelength stabilization and potential for a cost-effective network. We demonstrate less than 10/sup -9/ bit-error-rate (BER) operation of a four-node network at per-node data rates of 622 Mb/s.