Optimal spectral and power parameters for all-optical wavelength shifting: single stage, fanout, and cascadability

Abstract

We analyze a gain-saturated semiconductor-optical-amplifier (SOA) all-optical wavelength shifter with respect to its spectral and power characteristics as well as its capability for high fanout and cascadability. The extinction and signal-to-noise ratios, the two main figures-of-merit for a wavelength-shifted signal, are determined by accounting for gain saturation and spectral shifting which occur due to the depletion of the injected carrier density.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>