Wavelength-Routed Switching for 25-Gbit/s Optical Packets Using a Compact Transmitter Integrating a Parallel-Ring-Resonator Tunable Laser and an InGaAlAs EAM

We describe wavelength-routed switching technology for 25-Gbit/s optical packets using a tunable transmitter that monolithically integrates a parallel-ring-resonator tunable laser and an InGaAlAs electroabsorption modulator (EAM). The transmitter provided accurate wavelength tunability with 100-GHz spacing and small output power variation. A 25-Gbit/s burst-mode optical-packet data was encoded onto the laser output by modulating the integrated EAM with a constant voltage swing of 2 V at 45◦C. Clear eye openings were observed at the output of the 100 GHz-spaced arrayed-waveguide grating with error-free operation being achieved for all packets. The tunable transmitter is very promising for realizing a high-speed, large-port-count and energy-efficient wavelengthrouting switch that enables the forwarding of 100-Gbit/s optical packets. key words: tunable laser, electro-absorption modulator, optical packet switching, photonic integrated circuits