Robert W. Wilson

A precompetitive consortium on wide-band all-optical networks

The technical core of a precompetitive consortium formed by AT&T, DEC, and MIT to study the technology, architecture and applications of wideband all-optical networks of local to national (or international) extent is described. A general introduction to all-optical networks is given, and some proposed applications are discussed. The architecture, technology and testbed portions of this effort are described. >

Applications of the integrated waveguide grating router

Discretely tunable filter, receiver, and laser devices based on the integration of wavelength router/multiplexers with active elements are proposed. Each of these functions has been demonstrated experimentally in integrated form in InGaAsP, and will be published elsewhere. Such devices are key elements in WDM networks. >

New advances on optical components needed for FDM optical networks

Two critical components, needed for optical networks based on frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and frequency reuse technologies, are presented. One is a fast tunable laser, yielding 24 discrete frequencies regularly spaced by 40 GHz around 1.53 mu m. The laser can be switched randomly in less than 8 ns among these frequencies. Frequency routing of a 3-Gb/s bit stream in 10-ns packets between ten different destinations has been demonstrated with this laser. The second component is a broadband wavelength shifter capable of switching multigigabit data between optical frequencies in the 1.5- mu m region. The device is tunable and cascadable, provides conversion gain, and is nearly polarization insensitive. Data degradation after wavelength shifting is negligible. Such a device provides the means of reusing the limited set of frequencies given by the lasers and thus of realizing large size networks. >

Fast optical packet switching based on WDM

An optical switch capable of routing a 3-Gb/s bit stream in 10-ns packets between ten different destinations is demonstrated. Switching time between destinations is 2 ns. The switch is based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology. It uses a fast tunable laser capable of addressing 24 discrete optical frequencies spaced by 40 GHz.<<ETX>>

Structure and dynamics of the Bok globule B335

CO maps of the Bok globule B335 are presented and used to derive its density profile, mass distribution, and rotational velocity structure. It is found that the cloud is in nearly hydrostatic equilibrium with a density profile that varies roughly as r to the -1 in the core and r to the -3 in the envelope. The observed rotation is unimportant in the force balance at the present stage of evolution. 11 references.