Klaus Wuenstel

Observation of wavelength bistability in the interferometric Y-laser

We report on wavelength-bistability in the symmetrical interferometric Y-laser. Two single mode spectra separated by 5.5 nm are observed at identical bias and changed through ramping of only one of the four currents by 17 mA. It is thus controlled as simple as wavelength tuning of our new asymmetrical Y-laser.

Integrated interferometric injection lasers (/spl lambda/ =1300 nm and 1500 nm) with tuning range exceeding 20 nm

Introduction: Ultrawide wavelength tuning is nowadays demand for lasers in wavelength division multiplexing, switching and coherent transmission systems. Tuning ranges > 10 nm have been realized with complex and cost intensive hybrid external cavity lasers /l/. With monolithically integrated lasers of multisegment-DBR /2/, -DFB /3/ or TTG type /4/ tuning ranges are principally limited to about 10 nm in the InGaAsP/InP-system. Lasers of a new integrated interferometric type with an increased tuning range were described in 1.51. In this contribution we report on first integrated Y-coupled cavity lasers (YCCL) with tuning ranges exceeding 20 nm for both the 1300 nm and 1500 nm wavelength regime.

System approach for a photonic multidimensional switching technique

A system concept for an optical switching fabric based on a principle using space, time, and frequency switching stages is described. The required asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell buffers for contention resolution, which are difficult to realize with optical techniques, are minimized by exploiting the wavelength domain, thus providing high capacity and optimum usage of technologies. The related key components, such as tunable sources and optical wavelength converters based on InP technologies and advanced space switching matrices based on polymeric nonlinear optical materials, are described, and basic characteristics are presented.<<ETX>>