Abstract

Recently, requirements have been increasing for large throughput asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell based networks, such as ‘transfer networks’ [1] and local area networks (LANs) [2]. However, pursuing larger throughput only by improving transmission speed cannot satisfy future requirements. Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks are promising for increasing throughput. For effective utilization of this enlarged throughput, a ring topology with appropriate fairness control (e.g. [2]) is preferable to a star topology [3], considering the latter's inevitably complicated contention-free access control (for example, a token passing protocol) that imposes a delay on each cell. Recently, we have proposed a WDM ring optical network for ATM signals with high throughput and simple access protocol [3]. In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed and experimentally confirmed for fast laser diode (LD) wavelength switching with rapid stabilizing to its predetermined wavelength, which is the key technology for the proposed network.

© 1993 Optical Society of America