Applications of ultra-short pulse sources in OTDM networks

Novel all-optical and high-speed time-multiplexed space (TMS) switch architectures can be realised with the use of ultra-short pulse sources and ultra-fast all-optical wavelength converters. Example architectures, which only require low speed electronics, are outlined. Experimental results from an associated time-slot interchange architecture demonstrate error-free performance at 40 Gbit/s. The proposed architectures can be used in a WDM/OTDM optical cross-connect node, able to switch circuits in space, wavelength, and time