Abstract

Traditional networks using time-division multiplexing are limited in throughput by the electronics at their nodes. All-optical spacedivision switches avoid this bottleneck. Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be used in optical switches to provide both gain and fast switching (<10 ns). We consider three SOA-based switching architectures, each of which is capable of connecting N input nodes to N output nodes (referred to here as a switch of size N).

© 1992 Optical Society of America