Design of wavelength-convertible optical switches for the all-optical next-generation Internet

Abstract

The implementation of wavelength converters in the optical crossconnect (OXC) is a key step towards the all-optical networks. Optical switches are the building blocks of OXC with the functions of wavelength routing, reconfigurability, network protection and restoration. Wavelength converters are used to effectively alleviate the blocking probability and help to resolve contention at the output port of switches by shifting one incoming wavelength to another outgoing wavelength at an OXC node. The deployment of wavelength converters within optical switches offers robust routing, switching functions and network management in the optical layer. This is critical to the emerging all-optical Internet. However, the high cost of wavelength converters at the current stage of fabrication technology remains an issue when we design node architectures for an optical network. This paper proposes a new wavelength-convertible switch and investigates the most cost-effective use of wavelength converters.