Broadband Wavelength Conversion Based on Parallel-Coupled Micro-Ring Resonators

Abstract

We propose a broadband and high-efficiency four-wave-mixing wavelength converter based on parallel-cascaded micro-ring resonators (PCMRRs). By optimizing the distance between the mutually uncoupled ring resonators, we demonstrate that the PCMRR has a transmission spectrum with interleaved narrow and broad passbands. Broadband and high-efficiency wavelength conversion can be achieved by placing the pump and the signal in the narrow and broad passbands, respectively. We experimentally demonstrate a 25-GHz bandwidth wavelength converter based on optimally designed 3-ring PCMRR. Compared with the conventional single-ring-resonator-based wavelength converter with the same bandwidth, there is a 15-dB enhancement of conversion efficiency for the 3-ring PCMRR when the input pump power is 10 dBm.