Tunable and self‐probed wavelength conversion in an SOA‐based fiber‐ring laser

Abstract

AbstractTunable all‐optical wavelength converters have been regarded as key opto‐electronic devices in intelligent next‐generation optical networks. A novel scheme for tunable wavelength conversion, based on cross‐gain modulation (XGM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)‐based fiber‐ring laser, is proposed. Then, theoretical model for this novel scheme is established. Conversion output characteristics are calculated theoretically and measured experimentally under different conditions. The experimental results coincide with the theoretical results. Tunable wavelength conversion at 2.5 and 10 Gb/s with a 40‐nm tuning range are demonstrated experimentally. Experimental and theoretical studies show that this novel scheme is worthy of further investigation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 41: 237–241, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20104