160 Gbit/s line-rate data routing through monolithic multi-stage optical switch circuit

Introduction: Optoelectronic circuits with high levels of circuit connectivity and nanosecond time-scale reconfigurability of massively broadband optical signals may play an increasing role in high-capacity data transfer optical networks. Photonic integrated semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) gate-based circuits have received particular attention owing to the promise of low control complexity with bandwidth independent power consumption and fast reconfigurability [1– 3]. Serially multiplexed data formats, on non-critical wavelengths grids, may offer reduced inventory and management simplification. To date, however, ultra-high-speed processing in SOAs has been demonstrated by exploiting nonlinearity in combination with precision filtering [4] or interferometric all-optical switching [5]. This has not allowed sophisticated multi-stage monolithic integration. In this Letter we quantify 160 Gbit/s line-rate data integrity for monolithically interconnected SOA gate switches for the first time. The SOA gates have been integrated to create a scalable optoelectronic monolithic multi-stage optical switching circuit. Power penalty is studied for increasing numbers of SOA switches in the tested paths.