Decimal optical buffer based on an optical cross-point switch matrix

Abstract

A novel decimal optical buffer based on a multi-loop configuration and an optical cross-point switch matrix is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Its variable delay range is of 1–999 times the basic delay unit. The buffer dynamic reconfiguration can be achieved in nanosecond switching speed. Experimental results show that a differential phase-shift keying payload and an ON-OFF keying payload can be processed in such a buffer for 9.1 µs with a penalty of 3.3 and 6.5 dB, respectively.