Abstract

Implementation of simple wavelength converters can be considered an enabling technology for taking the full advantage of the wavelength dimension in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks [1-2]. Therefore, much attention has been devoted to the realisation of all-optical wavelength converters relying on mechanisms such as cross-gain modulation (XGM) and cross-phase modulation (XPM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) [3-6], optical modulation of lasers [7-9] and four-wave-mixing in fibers and SOAs [10-11]. In this paper, applications as well as desired features of wavelength converters are discussed. Additionally, different methods for wavelength conversion will be surveyed with emphasis on all-optical wavelength conversion by XGM and XPM in SOAs.

© 1995 Optical Society of America