Abstract

It has long been recognized that a key component for advanced fiber optic networks is a lossless, optical cross-point switch [1]. Such switches would be extremely useful for a variety of applications including signal routing, facilities reconfiguring, network monitoring, protection switching, and test instrumentation. Many of these applications require low or zero insertion loss and high reliability rather than fast (nsec) switching speeds. In this paper we discuss the first application of Er³⁺ fiber amplifiers to optical switching. A lossless, all-fiber, low crosstalk, 2x2 optical routing switch that is polarization independent and nonblocking has been fabricated. With modest pump power requirements at 980 nm and 1.48 μm, this switch is compatible with existing semiconductor laser technology, and thus is quite practical.

© 1990 Optical Society of America