Jurgen Gripp

Demonstration of massive wavelength-division multiplexing over transoceanic distances by use of dispersion-managed solitons

By combining a special dispersion map that has nearly constant path-average dispersion, a hybrid amplification scheme involving backward-pumped Raman gain, and sliding-frequency guiding filters, we have demonstrated massive wavelength-division multiplexing at 10 Gbits/s per channel, error free (bit-error rate, </=1x10(-9) for all channels), without the use of forward error correction, over greater than 9000 km, using dispersion-managed solitons. The number of channels (27) was limited only by a temporary lack of amplifier power and gain flatness. Terabit capacities are to be expected in the near future.

Enhanced range for OTDR-like dispersion map measurements.

We report on enhancement of the range, reliability, and accuracy of optical-time-domain-reflection- (OTDR-) like measurement of an optical fibers dispersion map, D(z), through the combined use of Raman gain, an appropriate seed at the four-wave mixing frequency, and a greatly improved algorithm for reduction of the data. In particular, in measurements made from only one end of the fiber, we have demonstrated a range of 75 km in dispersion-shifted fiber and of 22.5 km in high-loss dispersion-compensating fiber.

Experimental Demonstration of Massive WDM Overtransoceanic Distances Using Dispersion Managed Solitons

By combining a special dispersion map having nearly constant path-average dispersion, a hybrid amplification scheme involving backward-pumped Raman gain, and sliding-frequency guiding filters, we have demonstrated massive WDM at 10 Gbit/s per channel, error free (BER ≤1×10−9 for all channels), without the use of forward error correction, over greater than 9000 km, using dispersion managed solitons. The number of channels (27) was limited only by a temporary lack of amplifier power and gain flatness. Terabit capacities are to be expected in the near future.

Next generation packet routers

Current IP/ATM routers use an electrical switching fabric/backplane and either optical or electrical interconnects between the line cards to route data. An electrical backplane and associated connectors limit the number of high speed interconnections due to practical considerations. Scaling these so-called third generation routers to the terabit regime with high port densities faces enormous problems due to the high interconnect and electrical power density. Packet routers with an optical switching fabric are considered as the next generation of IP/ATM Multi-Service routers which enable scalability towards the Terabit and Petabit regime. In this paper, various architectures with electrically active or passive optical switch fabrics will be highlighted and differences in terms of switching speed and scalability will be discussed. Recent results using a passive Array Waveguide Grating (AWG) router and fast wavelength tunable laser are presented in the second half of this paper.