Wavelength conversion from 1.3 μm to 1.5 μm bands in a nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber

Abstract

Summary form only given. Ultrafast all-optical wavelength conversion between widely-spaced channels is a significant function in optical telecommunications. Several techniques have been demonstrated for wavelength conversion from 1.3 /spl mu/m to 1.5 /spl mu/m, using nonlinear optical loop mirrors, semiconductor optical amplifiers, Raman resonant four-wave mixing process in birefringent optical fibers, or difference frequency generation in quadratic periodically poled waveguides. However, the maximum conversion efficiency was about -9 dB for all techniques, essentially limited by phase-matching constraints. We address a new technique based on Raman-assisted three-wave mixing (RATWM) process in optical fibers. This simple wide-range wavelength conversion technique does not require the fulfilment of stringent phase-matching, which permits flexible operating conditions. We present coupled mode calculations and numerical simulations of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) showing, in a simplified architecture involving purposely designed nonlinear dispersion-shifted fibers (DSFs), efficient wavelength conversion of a 1.31 /spl mu/m input signal to an output signal in the 1.5 /spl mu/m spectral region.