Error-free all-optical wavelength conversion at 160 Gb/s using a semiconductor optical amplifier and an optical bandpass filter

Error-free and pattern-independent wavelength conversion at 160 Gb/s is demonstrated. The wavelength converter utilizes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with a recovery time greater than 90 ps and an optical bandpass filter (OBF) placed at the amplifier output. This paper shows that an OBF with a central wavelength that is blue shifted compared to the central wavelength of the converted signal shortens the recovery time of the wavelength converter to 3 ps. The wavelength converter is constructed by using commercially available fiber-pigtailed components. It has a simple configuration and allows photonic integration.